Possible Causes And Complications Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Bacteria Or Viruses

Researchers aren't fully sure what causes inflammatory bowel disease. One theory, though, touched on earlier, is the condition is caused by an immune system malfunction that occurs when the body is invaded by bacteria or viruses. As the immune system attempts to fight off this virus or bacterial infection, it undergoes an abnormal response that causes it to attack the digestive tract's cells. Even when a viral or bacterial infection isn't present, individuals may develop inflammatory bowel disease when their immune system reacts incorrectly to their commensal bacteria. This natural bacteria live in the digestive tract and help with overall digestion. When the immune system attacks the commensal bacterial, this leads to a loss of bacterial diversity in the intestine. There are also changes that occur in the types of bacteria present.

Bowel Obstruction

A bowel obstruction is a potential complication that can occur with Crohn's disease, though it's not as common with ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease causes changes in the general thickness of the walls of the intestines. Different portions of the bowel might narrow or become thicker, leading to irregular movement of digestive content. If the bowel becomes too narrow or the walls become too thick, a full bowel obstruction may occur. This leads to a complete or partial blockage, which can, in turn, cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems. Depending on the severity of the condition, patients might need a surgical procedure to remove the affected part of their bowel.