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Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes patchy inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract, most often the small and large intestine. It flares and settles over time.
Causes & risk factors
- An overactive immune response in the gut
- Genetic tendency (it can run in families)
- Smoking, which worsens the disease
- Gut bacteria and environmental triggers
- The exact cause is not fully known
Common symptoms
- Crampy tummy pain
- Long-lasting diarrhoea, sometimes with blood
- Weight loss and poor appetite
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever during flares
- Blood or mucus in the stool
Tests & diagnosis
- CBC (anaemia, infection)
- CRP and ESR (inflammation markers)
- Faecal calprotectin (stool inflammation test)
- Colonoscopy with biopsy
- MRI or CT of the bowel
Treatment & management
- Medicines to calm inflammation — steroids for flares, then maintenance medicines
- Immune-modifying medicines or biologics for moderate-to-severe disease
- Nutritional support and, sometimes, a special liquid diet
- Stop smoking
- Surgery to remove badly affected or blocked segments of bowel when needed
When to see a doctor urgently
- Persistent diarrhoea with blood or weight loss
- Severe tummy pain, high fever or a swollen, tender abdomen
- Signs of dehydration or being unable to keep fluids down
- A known IBD flare that is not settling
Frequently asked questions
Is Crohn's disease curable?
There is no cure yet, but modern treatment controls inflammation well, so many people have long periods with few or no symptoms (remission).
What is the difference between Crohn's and ulcerative colitis?
Both are IBD. Crohn's can affect any part of the gut in patches and through the full wall thickness; ulcerative colitis affects only the large bowel lining, continuously.
Explore more
Sources & further reading
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- MedlinePlus — U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Reviewed by Dr. Sanjay Anbu, MBBS. MedDroid is an AI medical assistant and can make mistakes. It provides general health information, not a diagnosis or medical advice — always consult a qualified clinician. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number immediately.