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Crohn's disease

Also called Crohn disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD

Crohn's disease is a long-term condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed. It can affect any part of the gut, from the mouth to the anus, but most often the end of the small bowel or the colon. Symptoms come and go, with periods of flare-ups and periods of few or no symptoms.

Last updated Nov 9, 2026

What it is

It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, along with ulcerative colitis. It usually starts in teenagers and young adults. Smoking makes it worse.

Treatment aims to control inflammation and keep it in remission, using steroids, immune-suppressing medicines and biological treatments. Some people need surgery to remove damaged sections of bowel or treat fistulas.

Common signs

  • Diarrhoea, sometimes with blood or mucus
  • Tummy pain and cramps
  • Tiredness
  • Weight loss
  • Mouth ulcers, joint pain or sore red eyes

How it is usually diagnosed

  • Blood tests and a stool test (faecal calprotectin)
  • Colonoscopy with biopsies
  • MRI or CT of the small bowel
  • Capsule endoscopy in some cases

Records worth keeping

Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:

  • Colonoscopy and biopsy reports
  • MRI and CT reports
  • Calprotectin and blood results over time
  • Your treatment history, including biologics and their dates
  • Monitoring blood tests for immune-suppressing medicines

Questions to ask your doctor

  • Where is my Crohn's and how active is it?
  • What should I do at the start of a flare?
  • Which vaccines and screening tests do I need on this treatment?

When to get help right away

Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:

  • Severe tummy pain, vomiting and being unable to pass stool, heavy bleeding, or fever while on immune-suppressing treatment: get urgent help

This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.

Sources

Related conditions

Ulcerative colitisA long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. Symptoms come and go, and treatment helps control flare-ups.Irritable bowel syndromeA common long-term condition of the gut causing cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. Diet and lifestyle changes often help.Bowel cancerA common cancer of the large bowel or rectum. Screening can find it early or prevent it by removing polyps.Anal fistulaA small tunnel between the inside of the bowel and the skin near the anus, usually after an abscess. Most need surgery to heal.