<unk>  is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.<unk>  can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.<unk>  is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines. Because the symptoms of<unk>  are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In<unk> , all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.<unk>  affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with<unk>  have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child.<unk>  can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing<unk> , and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing<unk> .<unk>  may also be called ileitis or enteritis.
Crohn's disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Ulcerative colitis
Tropical sprue
Inflammatory bowel disease
Allergic colitis
Drug-induced colitis
Celiac disease