No. However, many doctors believe that Crohn's Disease is caused by an infection. This is very controversial at present and clinical trials are being undertaken around the world to see if antibiotic treatment affects Crohn's disease.

Helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) is a certain bacterium that is thought to cause the majority of all peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers are stomach and duodenal ulcers. In the U.S. over 20 percent of the population under the age of 40 and over 50 percent of the population above the age of 60 are infected with h. pylori. However, that does not necessarily mean that the infected person will also develop a peptic ulcer.

Crohn's disease is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Parts of the digestive tract get swollen and have deep sores called ulcers. Crohn's disease usually is found in the last part of the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine. But it can develop anywhere in the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.

present there is no convincing evidence that H. pylori is linked to heart disease. Several investigators have noted that atherosclerosis is more severe or more common in patients with chronic infections e.g. chlamydia and possibly Helicobacter, but this has not been confirmed.

A malfunction in the immune system is certainly a part of Crohn's disease. This may be an inability to "turn off" the immune system after it "turns on" for an appropriate reason. Or, the immune system may "turn on" for the wrong reason. Immunosuppressive medications used to keep individuals from rejecting transplanted organs have been shown to be effective in treating Crohn's disease. These factors have led many researchers to characterize Crohn's disease as autoimmune.

A course of two antibiotics and an acid blocking medicine taken for 10 - 14 days can eradicate 90% of H pylori.

Once a person is infected with h. pylori, the h. pylori can attack the mucus coating that usually protects the stomach and the duodenum. Since the coating is weakened, acidic stomach juices can easily irritate the very sensitive stomach lining beneath. Eventually this will cause a sore, the stomach/ duodenal ulcer. Ulcers can be very painful. In severe cases people wake up in the mornings with blood in their mouth. Unfortunately, h.

H. pylori peptic ulcers are usually treated with antibiotics and drugs that reduce the acid in the stomach and protect the sensitive stomach lining. Which antibiotic to choose depends on the region in which the patient lives, as certain areas in the world seemingly show resistance against some antibiotics. There are currently two types of acid reducing/ suppressing medications in the market, H2 (Histamine) blockers and proton pump inhibitors. H2 blockers block histamine in the body.

Since research has not found out yet how h. pylori bacteria actually spread it is almost impossible to prevent an infection. However, as mentioned above, it depends on the person if a stomach ulcer actually develops. It is often stated that stomach ulcers are stress related. It is certainly true that the cause of stomach ulcers is either h. pylori or NSAIDs, but the fact that an infected person develops h. pylori might be related to a low immune system, which can be in fact stress related.

Crohn's disease is very rarely life threatening. Normally, Crohn's disease is a chronic, lifelong illness characterized by sporadic flare-ups separated by periods of remission. Occasionally, a complication such as a severe abscess or a large fistula connecting the intestine to another internal organ can set the stage for a life-threatening infection. In addition, Crohn's disease may require surgery; all surgical procedures involve the risk of life-threatening complications.

Doctors don't know what causes Crohn's disease. You may get it when the body's immune system has an abnormal response to normal bacteria in your intestine. Other kinds of bacteria and viruses may also play a role in causing the disease. Crohn's disease can run in families. Your chances of getting it are higher if a close family member has it. People of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish family background may have a higher chance of getting Crohn's disease.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and do a physical exam. You may also have X-rays and lab tests to find out if you have Crohn's. Barium X-rays of the small intestine or colon. In this test, you will drink a white liquid to coat the inside of your intestine so that the doctor can see it more clearly on an X-ray. Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. In these tests, the doctor uses a thin, lighted tube to look inside the colon. Biopsy.

Having Crohn's disease can be stressful. The disease affects every part of your life. Seek support from family and friends to help you cope. Get counseling if you need it. Many people with inflammatory bowel diseases look to alternative treatments to improve their well-being. These treatments have not been proven effective for Crohn's disease, but they may help you cope. They include massage, supplements such as vitamins D and B12, and herbs like aloe and ginseng.

The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Studies suggest that this and other inflammatory bowel diseases may result from an abnormal response by the body's immune system to normal intestinal bacteria.1 Disease-causing bacteria and viruses also may play a role in causing the condition. Crohn's disease can run in families, so some people may be more likely than others to develop the condition when exposed to something that triggers an immune reaction.

It is estimated that up to 1.4 million Americans may be affected with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Of those people, 500,000 have Crohn's disease. Gastroenterologists diagnose Crohn's disease in men and women of all ages — including people in their seventies and eighties; however, the majority of cases are diagnosed before age 30 in men and women of Northern Europe and North America. Studies have shown that family history may play a role in the patterns of diagnosis of Crohn's disease.

Depending on the severity of the disease, some patients need to restrict their diet all the time, others just some of the time, and still others may eat a normal, unrestricted diet. Avoiding a large number of foods can lead to disinterest in eating due to boredom, which can lead to reduced energy levels and subsequent weight loss.