What Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Doctors don’t know the exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease.

Research shows that people with these conditions experience many changes in their body's immune system, but we don’t know why these changes happen. Research also shows a strong link to abnormal responses in the immune system, meaning certain unknown triggers cause your body's immune system to attack itself.

There is also a possible genetic component, which makes this condition more common among family members.