Reply #7: I would suggest an alternative possibility [View All]

Crohns is often not diagnosed immediately; indeed there can be quite a few years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. (Been there, done that!) Sometimes flare-ups are manifested as much in fever and general unwellness, which in the undiagnosed can often be mistaken for 'flu and similar problems. Also, Crohns in some people leads to arthritis and similar problems.

Therefore, it seems quite possible to me that rather than aspirin *causing* Crohns, people with incipient Crohns are more likely to have symptoms for which they then take aspirin. Thus, people who are diagnosed with Crohns are more likely than others to have taken aspirin frequently.

Of course, aspirin like any drug needs to be handled with care and respect (a certain number of people die each year as a result of taking too much aspirin, or having abnormal reactions to it) - but I am not sure that a direct link to Crohns has been proved