From the Guidelines

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can cause progressive bowel damage and disability.

Can affect individuals of any age, from children to the elderly 1
Characterised by periods of symptomatic relapse and remission 1
Inflammation often persists in the absence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, leading to progressive bowel damage and complications 1
Can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth and perianal region, with the terminal ileum and colon being the most commonly affected sites 1

Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss, and can be associated with considerable debility 1
Can significantly impact quality of life (QoL) and cause psychological morbidity, particularly in children and young people 1

Treatment goals are evolving beyond mere control of symptoms towards targeting sustained control of GI inflammation, preventing bowel damage, reducing long-term disability, and maintaining QoL 1
Management approach combines medical, surgical, and/or endoscopic treatment with timely information and support 1

From the Research

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, with increasing incidence worldwide 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
It is characterized by chronic inflammation of any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and has a progressive and destructive course 3.
The disease can affect any portion of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, and is often associated with extraintestinal manifestations such as arthritis, uveitis, and erythema nodosum 5, 6.

The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, but several factors have been implicated, including a dysregulated immune system, an altered microbiota, genetic susceptibility, and environmental factors 2, 3, 6.
The disease is thought to result from a complex interplay between these factors, leading to dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses 2, 6.

The typical clinical scenario is a young patient presenting with abdominal pain, chronic diarrhoea, weight loss, and fatigue 2, 5.
Diagnosis is based mainly on patient's history and clinical examination, and supported by serologic, radiologic, endoscopic, and histologic findings 5, 6.
Antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and autoantigenic targets such as glycoprotein 2 may aid in differentiating Crohn's disease from other conditions 5.

Management aims to achieve endoscopic healing, symptom resolution, and improvement in quality of life 4.
Therapeutic approaches vary depending on disease phenotype, and may include thiopurines, anti-tumour necrosis factor agents, and other immunosuppressive and biologic therapies 4.
Surgical intervention is still required in a proportion of patients, and tailoring treatment to target specific patient phenotypes, disease severity, and patient wishes is becoming more feasible with the growing array of therapeutic options 4.