Crohn's disease: Finding relief and staying strong

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QUICK LINKS
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Explore symptoms
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Understand impacts
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Learn ways to manage
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Crohn disease icon

Finding and treating Crohn's disease early can help reduce surgery risk, and prevents intestinal damage.1

Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disease that causes swelling in your digestive system.4,5 It’s part of a group of conditions called IBD, which stands for inflammatory bowel disease.2,3 Crohn’s ranges from mild to severe, but many people learn how to manage their symptoms and live full, active lives.4
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CROHN'S SYMPTOMS

Recognising what Crohn's disease feels like

Crohn’s disease causes swelling in the digestive system.4 This can make the walls of the intestines thicker, and in some cases deep inflammation can lead to fistulas (small abnormal tunnels). 5 Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract—from the mouth to the bottom.4

Most symptoms are similar to other types of IBD, but Crohn’s can be associated with symptoms such as diarrhoea that is usually not bloody, malnutrition (because parts of the digestive tract that absorb nutrients get inflamed), and mouth sores.6

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These symptoms can come in waves and range from mild to severe: 4
  • Diarrhoea which may sometimes contain blood or mucus
  • Stomach pain and cramps
  • Constipation7
  • Pain around the anus
  • Fatigue - tiredness, lack of energy, or exhaustion that doesn't get better with rest
  • Feeling and being sick
  • Weight loss
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IMPACTS OF CROHN'S

How Crohn's affects the body

The gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract is a group of organs that help your body digest food. It starts at your mouth and ends at your bottom. Problems can happen both inside and outside the GI tract.

Possible complications inside the GI tract

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  • Dehydration8, which can occur as a result of fluid loss from diarrhoea
  • Not absorbing enough essential nutrients (malnutrition)6
  • Increased risk of colon and rectal cancers9
  • Dehydration
  • Not absorbing enough essential nutrients
  • Increased risk of colon and rectal cancers
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Possible complications outside the GI tract 4

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  • Low red blood cell count (anaemia)10
  • Reduced bone density10
  • Joint pain
  • Skin changes
  • Eye irritation
  • Delayed or impaired growth in some children
  • Low red blood cell count (anemia)
  • Reduced bone density
  • Joint pain
  • Skin changes
  • Eye irritation
  • Delayed or impaired growth in some children
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Mental health impact 11

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Crohn's can make daily life harder and may cause feelings like stress, worry, or sadness. If you're feeling this way, talk to your healthcare professional. They can help.
Crohn's can make daily life harder and may cause feelings like stress, worry, or sadness. If you're feeling this way, talk to your doctor. They can help.
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DIAGNOSING CROHN'S

Diagnosing Crohn's starts with a visit to the healthcare professional

When you tell your healthcare professional about your symptoms, they’ll first check to see if something else might be causing them. To find out if you have Crohn's disease, your healthcare professional will use tests and scans. You might also be sent to a special doctor called a gastroenterologist, who treats problems in the digestive system.
STEP 1
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Talk with your doctor

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Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, any medicines you take, your family’s health history, and your daily routine—like what you eat, how active you are, and how stressed you feel. They’ll also do a physical exam.
STEP 2
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Lab tests 12,13

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To learn more, your healthcare professional may order blood or stool tests.

  • Blood tests check for inflammation, infection, or low iron.
  • Stool tests look for blood, mucus, or other signs of digestive problems.
STEP 3
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Imaging and scoping 4

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Depending on what your doctor finds, they may suggest:

  • A CT or MRI scan to look for inflammation or other issues inside your body.
  • An endoscopy, which uses a tiny camera to look inside your digestive tract.
  • A colonoscopy is a procedure that uses a camera to look at your colon.
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TREATMENT

Managing Crohn's disease

Healthcare professionals treat Crohn's disease by helping your immune system work better. This usually means using medicine, making lifestyle changes, and sometimes having surgery. Working with your healthcare professional to find the right mix of treatments can may help you feel better and stay active.4
Medicine
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Medicine helps calm the inflammation in your colon so it can heal. This can ease symptoms like belly pain, bleeding, and diarrhoea. Taking your medicine the right way can also help prevent flare-ups.4
Nutrition
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Eating a variety of healthy foods is good, but some foods may make symptoms worse. Your body may need more energy, especially if you’re having diarrhoea or don’t feel like eating. Talk to your healthcare professional about what foods are best for you.4
Surgery
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If medicine doesn’t help, surgery may be needed. This means removing a portion of the bowel and then joining the two ends of the healthy bowels together. Your healthcare professional will explain the options based on your age and health.4
Other lifestyle changes
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Getting enough sleep, managing stress, staying connected with others, and moving your body can all help you feel better. These healthy habits can support wellbeing alongside your treatment and help you live a full life.11,14

References

  1. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Early Crohn’s disease treatment improves quality of life and could save the NHS millions [Internet]. Cambridge: CUH NHS Foundation Trust; [accessed 17 Mar 2026]. Available from: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/news/early-crohns-disease-treatment-save-nhs-millions/
  2. Circle Health Group. Crohn’s disease [Internet]. London: Circle Health Group; [date not stated] [accessed 16 Mar 2026]. Available from: https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/treatments/crohns-disease
  3. Pietrangelo A. Crohn’s disease and other autoimmune diseases. Healthline. Updated March 20, 2025. Accessed 8 May 2026. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/crohn-disease/related-autoimmune-diseases?
  4. NHS. Crohn’s disease [Internet]. London: NHS; April 2025 [accessed 17 Mar 2026]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease/
  5. Patient.info. Crohn’s disease [Internet]. London: Patient Platform Ltd; 21 Jan 2023 [accessed 16 Mar 2026]. Available from: https://patient.info/digestive-health/inflammatory-bowel-disease/crohns-disease#what-is-crohn-s-disease
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Crohn’s disease basics. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Published June 21, 2024. Accessed 8 May 2026. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/about/crohns-disease-basics.html?
  7. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Crohn’s disease. Health. Accessed 8 May 2026. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/crohns-disease?
  8. Crohn’s & Colitis UK. Dehydration [Internet]. St Albans: Crohn’s & Colitis UK; March 2026 [accessed 17 Mar 2026]. Available from: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/symptoms/dehydration
  9. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Crohn’s disease: complications [Internet]. London: NICE; [date not stated] [accessed 17 Mar 2026]. Available from: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/crohns-disease/background-information/complications/
  10. Malik TF, Aurelio DM. Extraintestinal Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. [Updated 2023 Mar 6]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568797/?
  11. Crohn’s & Colitis UK. Mental health and wellbeing with Crohn’s or Colitis [Internet]. St Albans: Crohn’s & Colitis UK; Jan 2025 [accessed 17 Mar 2026]. Available from: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/living-with-crohns-or-colitis/mental-health-and-wellbeing
  12. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Crohn's disease: Diagnosis – Investigations [Internet]. London: NICE; [cited 2026 May 26]. Available from: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/crohns-disease/diagnosis/investigations/
  13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Testing and diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Published June 21, 2024. Accessed 8 May 2026. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/testing/index.html
  14. Jones B. Build your Crohn’s disease self‑care routine: 10 tips. Health. Updated September 6, 2025. Accessed 8 May 2026. Available from: https://www.health.com/crohns-disease-self-care-7965532
CMAT-06475 June 2026
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