On an average, in North America, 400,000 to 600,000 people are affected by Crohn's disease. In comparison, in Northern Europe 27-48% for every 100,000 people, suffer from it. The disease can attack in any age starting in the teens and twenties, escalating in the fifties to seventies.

Crohn's Disease was first described by Polish surgeon Antony Lesniowski in 1904 and then in 1932 by American Gastroenterologist Burrill Bernard Crohn after whom Crohn's Disease was named.

Crohn's Disease is also known as regional enteritis which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract with varying symptoms and it is an autoimmune disease.

Crohn's Disease, which is said to be genetically linked, can affect males and females equally. Highest risk being for siblings and smokers.

Cramp-like abdominal pain relieved after defecation, diarrhea, very frequent bowel movements, flatulence and bloating, vomiting, nausea, inflammation of the bile ducts, mouth ulcers, uveitis, and arthritis are some common symptoms of Crohn's disease.

A number of tests have to be performed to diagnose Crohn's disease, such as colonoscopy, biopsy, small bowel-follow through, gastroscopy, barium follow-through x-ray, CT, MRI, and blood tests.

Treatment for Crohn's disease includes drugs such as Sulfasalazine, Mesalamine, Olsalazine, Corticosteroids, Surgery and long term nutrition supplements can only help to suppress the disease but there is no permanent cure.

Crohn's disease is associated with a high rate of mortality, usually in the first few years after diagnosis, due to complications such as abscesses, intestinal obstructions, colorectal cancer and fistulas.

Dr. Eisenhower(President of USA), Beth Orton(singer), Anastacia(singer), Rolf Benirschke(football player), Marvin Bush(son of George W Bush), Shannen Doherty(actress) and Kevin Dineen(sportsman) are among the famous people affected by Crohn's disease.

The most common complementary therapies tried for Crohn's disease are herbal and nutritional supplements, probiotics, and fish oil.