Crohn's Disease - Causes

The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Some researchers believe that it may be triggered by an infection. But no infectious agent, such as a bacterium or virus, has ever been discovered. There is some evidence that the disease may be an autoimmune disorder (see autoimmune disorder entry). An autoimmune disorder is a condition in which the body's immune system becomes confused. It begins to attack body tissue just as it would attack invading organisms, such as bacteria or viruses. However, no proof for this theory has yet been obtained.