Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Celiac Disease: Environmental Risks Factors and Consequences

Abstract

Gastrointestinal manifestations of autoimmune-inflammatory diseases represent a major category of immune dysfunction-based chronic diseases. Two prominent examples of these diseases are introduced in this chapter. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that consists of two distinct conditions, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), while celiac disease (CED) is a gut-associated inflammatory disease with both allergic and autoimmune features. These diseases have been increasing in prevalence among the overall population including an expansion among the pediatric population. This chapter provides a foundational description of the suggested environmental risk factors, immune dysfunction, and comorbidities associated with IBD and CED.