Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the entire gastro-intestinal tract. The most noticeable symptoms are intermittent abdominal cramping, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, listlessness and lack of appetite. Crohn’s disease is an affliction that limits the quality of life considerably.

About 300,000 Germans suffer from this chronic intestinal inflammation.

In cases of Crohn’s disease, the entire digestive tract from the esophagus to the rectum can be affected. In 45 percent of patients, both the small and the large intestine are inflamed. The inflammation spreads to all layers of the intestinal wall, resulting in scarring, thickening, and narrowing of the rectal tube. Often malignant growths occur that have to be surgically removed.

In addition, Crohn’s disease can spread to surrounding tissue, like the bladder, the vagina or the skin. This happens through tunnels that are called fistulas.

Young people in particular are affected by this disease. Each year, between six and ten in every 100,000 children fall ill with Crohn’s disease.