Once considered a rare disorder mainly affecting those of European descent, Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that now affects an estimated 780,000 to 1 million people in the United States and has become a global issue affecting all ethnicities. For many, it is a chronic and debilitating condition.
Crohn’s disease often targets the last part of the small intestine but can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus and cause issues in other parts of the body. The disease can penetrate deeply into the intestinal walls, leading to severe, life-threatening complications. The unpredictable cycles of flare-ups and remissions can drastically lower one’s quality of life, causing missed work, disability, and financial burdens.
