Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease tends to come and go. People often go through flare-ups—times when symptoms are strong—followed by remission, when symptoms ease or disappear for weeks, months, or even years. There’s no reliable way to predict when symptoms will return, though patients who stay on treatment usually do much better than those who don’t.
Symptoms can vary depending on where the disease affects the digestive tract and how severe it is. Common signs include:
- Ongoing diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding Pain or tenderness in the lower right abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
- A feeling of fullness or a lump in the lower right abdomen
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Poor nutrition or vitamin deficiencies
- In children, slowed growth or delayed development
Other symptoms may appear depending on complications. For example, if a fistula (an abnormal tunnel) develops near the rectum, it can cause pain and drainage in that area. Crohn’s can also lead to problems outside the intestines, such as arthritis, kidney stones, gallstones, eye inflammation, mouth sores, skin rashes, and liver disease.
What Is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is another chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, but unlike Crohn’s disease, it only affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum. It doesn’t involve the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. The inflammation leads to sores (ulcers) in the colon lining, often causing bloody stools and diarrhea.
In children, ulcerative colitis is less common than Crohn’s disease.
How Does Ulcerative Colitis Affect the Digestive Tract?
The inflammation usually starts in the rectum and can spread upward through part—or sometimes all—of the colon. When it only affects the rectum, it’s called ulcerative proctitis. Like Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis alternates between flare-ups and remission. The quiet periods can last for weeks or even years.
What Are the Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?
The most common symptom is diarrhea, which may contain blood. Other possible symptoms include:
- Sudden or urgent need to have a bowel movement
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Fever
- Anemia (from blood loss)
Less common complications can include joint pain or arthritis, kidney stones, eye or mouth inflammation, skin rashes, and liver disease.
The Difference Between IBD and IBS
People often mix up IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), but they’re not the same.
IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis—both cause real inflammation and damage in the digestive