Crohn’s Disease: Symptoms, Types, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

 

Your digestive tract becomes inflamed when you have Crohn's disease, a lifelong condition. Symptoms include persistent diarrhea, stomach pain, and weight loss may result from it. These symptoms, known as flare-ups and remissions, frequently occur in cycles. Although there isn't a cure, medication can help control symptoms, lower inflammation, and improve your quality of life.

Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation, or swelling and irritation, of the digestive tract's tissues. It can cause belly aches, severe diarrhea, exhaustion, weight loss, and malnutrition.

Individuals with Crohn's disease may experience inflammation in different parts of their digestive tract. The beginning of the large intestine and the end of the small intestine are most frequently affected by Crohn's disease. The deeper layers of the bowel are frequently affected by the inflammation.

Crohn's disease can be extremely painful and debilitating. It can occasionally result in major or perhaps life-threatening complications.

Also Read: Diarrhea: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

What is Crohn's Disease?

Crohn's disease is a long-term condition that irritates and swells your digestive system. It is a primary form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

When your immune system overreacts and targets your digestive tract, inflammation results, leading to Crohn's disease. Mild to severe symptoms are possible.

Crohn's disease can be crippling for certain individuals. Persistent inflammation can cause discomfort, weariness, frequent trips to the restroom, and missed work or school time.

Crohn's disease types:

Any area of your digestive system, from your mouth to your anus, can be impacted by Crohn's. Some individuals have Crohn's disease in many part of  the digestive tract. Healthcare professionals frequently use the location of swelling and discomfort to define the disease.

Types include:

• Ileocolitis: Affects the end of your small intestine (ileum) and your large intestine (colon) — this is the most common type

• Crohn’s colitis: Limited to your large intestine

• Ileitis: Affects only the last part of your small intestine (ileum)

• Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease: Affects your stomach and the start of your small intestine (duodenum)

• Jejunoileitis: Patchy areas of swelling in the upper part of your small intestine (jejunum)

These types describe where Crohn’s affects your body. But your symptoms and treatment may be similar.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease:

Crohn's disease symptoms might appear suddenly or grow gradually over time. They could range from mild to severe.

Until treatment helps manage their symptoms, some patients experience long-term (chronic) symptoms. Some may experience intermittent symptoms. There may be times when you feel better (remission) and times when the disease is active (flares).

Your everyday life may be hampered by symptoms in more severe situations. They may make it challenging to work, attend school, or maintain normal routines.

Crohn's disease symptoms consist of:

• Cramping or stomach ache

• Prolonged diarrhea

• Extremely tired

• Loss of appetite

• Unexpected decrease in weight

• Blood in your feces

• Mouth ulcers

• Pain in the joints

• Rashes on the skin

• Fever

• Inflammation of the eyes

• Swelling of the liver or bile ducts

• Kidney stones

• Loss of bone

• Iron deficiency (anemia)

Crohn's disease can postpone puberty or growth in children and teenagers.

What is the cause of Crohn's disease?

The precise cause of Crohn's disease is unknown to researchers. However, they think it might be caused by a mix of your genes and immune system.

Your immune system overreacts when you have Crohn's disease. Your immune system often defends you against harmful bacteria. However, it targets harmless bacteria in your gut when you have Crohn's. Swelling and irritation result from this.

Another factor could be genetics. Occasionally, Crohn's disease runs in biological families. Some genes might make you more vulnerable. However, a large number of Crohn's patients do not have a family history of the condition.

Risk factors:

Crohn's disease can strike anyone. However, a few things increase your risk, such as:

• Age: Teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 35 are most frequently diagnosed with Crohn's disease by medical professionals.

• Biological family history: Your risk may be increased if a parent, sibling, or child has Crohn's disease.

• Smoking: Smoking can exacerbate symptoms and raise your risk.

• Ethnicity: People of Northern European ancestry are more likely to have Crohn's disease.

• Some drugs: Although they don't cause Crohn's disease, NSAIDs like naproxen (Aleve®) and ibuprofen (Advil®) may worsen symptoms.

Crohn's disease complications:

Serious complications resulting from Crohn's disease can occasionally require additional care or surgery. These issues may lower your quality of life if left untreated.

A fistula is one instance. Abnormal tunnels called fistulas develop between normally unconnected body parts. They frequently form around the anus in Crohn's disease and can result in discomfort, swelling, or pus or feces leaking.

Additional issues could be:

• Abscesses: Pus-filled, infected pockets in your abdomen or next to your anus

• Anal fissures: Tiny rips in your anus's lining

• Blockages and strictures: Intestinal narrowing caused by scarring

• Malnutrition: Deficits in vitamins or minerals due to your body's inability to absorb nutrients.

• Blood clots. Blood clots in veins and arteries increase in people with Crohn's disease.

• Ulcers. Anywhere in the digestive tract, ongoing inflammation can result in open sores known as ulcers. The mouth, anus, and vaginal area are examples of this.

• Skin conditions. Hidradenitis suppurativa is another condition that many people with Crohn's disease may experience. Deep nodules, tunnels, and abscesses in the groin, under the breasts, perianal or vaginal area, and armpits are all symptoms of this skin condition. A regular skin inspection is advised since several Crohn's disease treatments can raise the risk of skin cancers
• Anemia: Low red blood cell count due to bleeding or inadequate food absorption is known as anemia.

• Colon cancer: Cancer of the colon or rectum is known as colon cancer.

These problems are not common in people with Crohn's disease.

How medical professionals diagnose Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease cannot be diagnosed with a single test. To check for inflammation and rule out other illnesses, a medical professional will do a number of tests.

First, your doctor will inquire about your medical history, biological family history, and symptoms. They will also perform a physical examination. A gastroenterologist, a physician who specializes in digestive disorders, can be recommended to you.

The following tests may be used to diagnose Crohn's disease:

• Blood tests: These examinations look for indications of anemia, inflammation, or infection.

• Stool tests: A sample of your poop might be tested to identify intestinal inflammation or infection.

• Colonoscopy: Your doctor looks inside your colon and the end of your small intestine using a thin tube equipped with a camera. To confirm the diagnosis, they might also do biopsies, which are tiny samples of your intestines.

• Imaging tests: Your digestive tract can be seen in great detail with CT or MRI scans.

To confirm Crohn's disease or rule out other conditions, your healthcare provider will examine the results.

Treatments for Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease has no known cure. However, treatment can help you maintain remission, relieve symptoms, and reduce inflammation. If left untreated, the illness may eventually get worse and cause more severe symptoms or complications.

A plan will be created by your healthcare professional based on:

• The severity of the disease

• Which digestive tract sections are impacted?

• How you react to treatment

• Medication, dietary therapy, and/or surgery may be suggested by your physician.

Medications for Crohn's disease

The majority of people take medication to quiet their immune systems or reduce inflammation. These medications lower your chance of complications and flares.

The following kinds of drugs are used to treat Crohn's disease:

• Corticosteroids: During a flare, corticosteroids rapidly reduce inflammation. They serve more as a band-aid to help you start the proper long-term treatment and medication.

• Immunomodulators: These medications suppress your immune system.

• Biologics: These medications target particular immune system components that lead to inflammation.

• JAK inhibitors: These drugs lower the activity of the immune system,JAK inhibitors belong to the class of medications called small molecules. By focusing on immune system components that contribute to intestinal inflammation, these more recent medications aid in the reduction of inflammation. They are consumed orally. When other therapies for Crohn's disease have failed, JAK inhibitors may be suggested. Upadacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat Crohn's disease. It is not advised to use JAK inhibitors while pregnant.

• Antibiotics and other drugs: In patients with Crohn's disease, antibiotics may reduce the amount of drainage from fistulas and abscesses and occasionally treat them. Additionally, some experts believe that antibiotics aid in the reduction of dangerous bacteria that might be causing intestinal inflammation. Antibiotics including metronidazole (Flagyl) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro) are frequently prescribed. Other drugs relieve diarrhea, control discomfort, or eradicate harmful bacteria.

• Anti-diarrheals: By giving stool bulk, a fiber supplement like psyllium husk (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel) might help treat mild to moderate diarrhea. Loperamide (Imodium A-D) may be useful for more severe diarrhea.

• Painkillers: A doctor might suggest acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.) for mild pain, but not other common painkillers like naproxen sodium (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.). These medications have the potential to exacerbate both the disease and its symptoms.

• Supplements and vitamins: Your doctor might suggest vitamins and nutritional supplements if you're not getting enough nourishment.

Your doctor will keep an eye on your reaction and adjust your prescription as necessary.

Nutritional therapy:

Your body may find it more difficult to absorb nutrients if you have Crohn's disease. Your provider might suggest the following to help prevent malnutrition:

• Changing your diet

• Taking supplements

• Developing a customized meal plan

• In extreme circumstances, using a feeding tube

Surgery:

Many people find success with medications. However, if complications arise or your symptoms don't get better with medication, you might need surgery. Crohn's disease surgery can address issues such as:

• Blockages in the bowel

• Fistulas

• Abscesses

• Sections of your gut that are seriously damaged

• Crohn's disease cannot be cured by surgery; however, it may improve symptoms and address problems. After that, you might still require medication.

Is it possible to prevent Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease cannot be prevented. However, you might be able to control symptoms and reduce flare-ups. These self-care suggestions could be useful:

• Give quit smoking to lower your risk of problems and flare-ups.

• Steer clear of medications that upset your stomach: NSAIDs in particular can cause discomfort.

• Keep an eye out for foods that aggravate your symptoms: You might wish to keep a food journal because some meals may make your symptoms worse.

• Eat smaller, more balanced meals: Frequent consumption of easily digested foods may help lessen flare-up symptoms.

• Managing stress can be aided by regular exercise, enough sleep, and mental health services.

• Together with a dietitian or your healthcare physician, develop a strategy that meets your needs.

References:

• American College of Gastroenterology. Crohn’s Disease (https://gi.org/topics/crohns-disease/). Last updated 4/2024. Accessed 4/23/2026.

• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. What is Crohn’s Disease? (https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/patientsandcaregivers/what-is-crohns-disease) Accessed 4/23/2026.

• Lichtenstein GR, Loftus EV, Afzali A, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Crohn’s Disease in Adults (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40701562/). Am J Gastroenterol. 2025 Jun 3;120(6):1225-1264. Accessed 4/23/2026.

• What is Crohn's disease? Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/patientsandcaregivers/what-is-crohns-disease. Accessed May 21, 2024.

• Medication options for Crohn's disease. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.  https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/patientsandcaregivers/what-is-crohns-disease/treatment/medication. Accessed May 21, 2024.

• Regueiro M, et al. Overview of the medical management of mild (low risk) Crohn disease in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 21, 2024.

• Hashash JA, et al. Medical management of moderate to severe Crohn disease in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 21, 2024.

• Kumar A, et al. Horizon scanning: New and future therapies in the management of inflammatory bowel disease. eGastroenterology. 2023; doi:10.1136/egastro-2023-100012.

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U.S.). Crohn’s Disease (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease). Last reviewed 7/2024. Accessed 4/23/2026.

• Tian C, Ranasinghe IR, Hsu R. Crohn Disease (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436021/). 2025 Dec 1. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Accessed 4/23/2026.