Overview
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can cause inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. It most often affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (the colon). Symptoms vary from person to person and can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in the stool, rectal bleeding, mouth sores, weight loss, fatigue, and fever. Many people experience periods of flare-ups followed by periods of remission, when symptoms ease or go away. Crohn’s disease can run in families, but most people who have it have no family history of the condition. Other factors that may raise your risk include age, ethnicity, and a history of smoking cigarettes. There are several types of Crohn’s disease, each affecting a different part of the digestive tract, so your provider will work with you to understand which type you have and how best to manage it.
- Ileocolitis, the most common form of Chrohn’s, which affects the small and large intestine.
- Ileitis, which only affects the ileum.
- Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease, which affects the stomach and duodenum.
- Jejunoileitis, which affects the upper half of the small intestine called the jejunum.
- Crohn’s Colitis, which affects only the colon (large intestine).
How is it diagnosed?
Crohn’s disease is usually diagnosed with a combination of tests, since no single test can confirm it. Endoscopic procedures such as a colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, or capsule endoscopy (in which you swallow a small camera the size of a pill) allow your provider to look at the lining of your digestive tract for inflammation, ulcers, and other abnormalities. During these exams, small tissue samples (biopsies) may be taken to help confirm the diagnosis. CT scans or MRIs may also be used to see how far the inflammation has spread, how severe it is, and whether complications such as fistulas (abnormal connections that form between parts of the bowel or between the bowel and nearby tissue) have developed. Blood and stool tests help check for signs of inflammation, anemia (low red blood cell count), and nutritional deficiencies.
How is it treated?
Crohn’s disease can have a significant impact on daily life and requires ongoing care. While there is currently no cure, treatment focuses on calming inflammation, controlling symptoms, and helping you feel your best. Most care plans combine medication and lifestyle changes, and in some cases surgery. Medications may include anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, biologic therapies that target the immune response, antibiotics, and symptom-relief medications. Healthy habits can also make a real difference in managing symptoms and supporting your overall well-being, including avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms, managing stress, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and staying well hydrated. If medications don’t provide enough relief, or if complications develop, surgery may be an option to remove damaged portions of the intestine or to treat problems such as strictures (narrowed areas of the bowel), fistulas, or abscesses (pockets of infection). Your physician will work with you to determine which treatment approach is right for you.
Image courtesy of Mayo Clinic
Helpful Link
https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website is a great resource on treatment options, IBD medications guide, information on diet and nutrition, research information, financial and insurance material and community support options.
Updated November 2026