Experiences with
Crohn's diseaseSymptoms of Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease affects people of all ages. The symptoms usually start in childhood or early adulthood.
The main symptoms are:
- diarrhoea
- stomach aches and cramps
- blood in your poo
- tiredness (fatigue)
- weight loss
The symptoms may be constant or may come and go every few weeks or months. When they come back, it's called a flare-up.
Treatments for Crohn's disease
There's no cure for Crohn's disease, but treatment can help reduce or control your symptoms.
The main treatments are:
- medicines to reduce inflammation in the digestive system – usually steroid tablets
- medicines to stop the inflammation coming back – either tablets or injections
- surgery to remove a small part of the digestive system – sometimes this may be a better treatment option than medicines
You'll usually have a team of health professionals helping you, possibly including a GP, a specialist nurse and specialist doctors.
Causes of Crohn's disease
The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown.
It's thought several things could play a role, including:
- your genes – you're more likely to get it if a close family member has it
- a problem with the immune system (the body's defence against infection) that causes it to attack the digestive system
- smoking
- a previous stomach bug
- an abnormal balance of gut bacteria
There's no evidence to suggest a particular diet causes Crohn's disease.
SymptomsMedical treatmentsCausesThe main symptoms of Crohn's disease are diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, and blood in your poo.
The main treatments for Crohn's disease are medicines that reduce inflammation in your gut and stop it coming back. Some people need to have surgery.
The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. It's been linked to things like your genes and a problem with the immune system.
Related links
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