Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGastrointestinal SymptomsGastrointestinal ComplicationsExtraintestinal SymptomsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal Complications
Extraintestinal Symptoms
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Summary
Crohn’s diseaseis a chronicinflammatory bowel diseasethat primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract but can affect other organs in the body too. Crohn’s disease symptoms that involve gastrointestinal issues include bloating, flatulence, cramping diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and blood in stools.
Complications, such as bowel obstruction and intestinal rupture, can arise. The condition is associated with an increased risk ofbowel cancer. When its effects go beyond the gastrointestinal tract, the disease can cause vision impairment, arthritis, skin ulcers, osteoporosis, liver failure, and more.
Gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms are the primary effects of Crohn’s disease. Approximately 30 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have involvement in the small intestine, particularly the terminal ileum (the junction through which partially digested food moves from the small intestine to the large intestine).Another 20 percent only have involvement of the colon, while 45 percent have both.
Among the characteristic symptoms of Crohn’s disease:
Inflammation in the GI tract is not limited to the intestines alone. Recurrent mouth sores (aphthous ulcers) are common in people with Crohn’s disease, while anal itchiness, fistulas, fissures, or abscesses can lead to extreme discomfort and fecal incontinence. The stomach and esophagus are less commonly affected.
What does it feel like to have a Crohn’s disease flare?During a flare, your symptoms reappear or get more severe. You may experience diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, nausea, and bloody stool. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing persistent or worsening symptoms.
What does it feel like to have a Crohn’s disease flare?
During a flare, your symptoms reappear or get more severe. You may experience diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, nausea, and bloody stool. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing persistent or worsening symptoms.
Under the persistent burden of inflammation, the walls of the intestines will undergo a consistent, overall thickening as layers of scar tissue begin to build up. This can cause narrowing of the intestinal passage, increase inflammation, and raise the risk of short- and long-term complications.
Among the complications:
The most serious concern is the increased risk ofcolorectal cancer.The persistent intestinal inflammation can sometimes trigger genetic changes in cells that lead to cancer. With Crohn’s disease, cancer most commonly begins in the small bowel, but can affect any part of the small or large bowel.
The risk of cancer tends to increase the longer you have Crohn’s disease. A 2014 review of studies concluded that the cumulative risk of colorectal cancer is 2.9 percent at 10 years, 5.6 percent at 20 years, and 8.3 percent at 30 years after Crohn’s disease diagnosis—roughly a two-fold increase in risk compared to the general population.
The most common extraintestinal symptoms involve the eyes, joints, skin, gallbladder, nervous system, blood, and blood vessels.
Eyes
Uveitis(inflammation of the middle layer of the eye) can cause blurred vision, light sensitivity, and eye pain.When it affects the white of the eye (sclera), it can lead toepiscleritis.
Both are usually benign conditions that resolve on their own but the chronic inflammation can lead to permanent damage and vision loss.
Joints and Connective Tissue
Skin
Bones
Clubbing of the fingers, which is unrelated to osteoporosis, is also occasionally seen.
What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease for children?Children with Crohn’s disease exhibit many of the same symptoms as adults, such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and stomach pain. They are also prone to delayed skeletal development. Sometimes puberty is also delayed.
What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease for children?
Children with Crohn’s disease exhibit many of the same symptoms as adults, such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and stomach pain. They are also prone to delayed skeletal development. Sometimes puberty is also delayed.
Gallbladder
Gallstones can be incredibly painful and cause cramping, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and pain in either the back or upper-right abdomen.
Central Nervous System
It is estimated that one of every seven people with Crohn’s disease experiences neurological symptoms. They may be mild to moderate and include a headache, depression, or a tingling or numb sensation in the hands and feet (neuropathy).
Other effects may be more serious and include:
The neurological symptoms of Crohn’s disease are poorly understood and are believed to be linked to severe, long-term untreated disease.
Blood and Circulatory System
People with Crohn’s disease often have anemia due to the poor absorption of nutrients in the intestines. Additionally, Crohn’s disease is associated with another type called autoimmune hemolytic anemia, in which the immune system attacks and destroys its own red blood cells. Symptoms may include fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, and a fast heartbeat.
Crohn’s disease also leads to the abnormal clumping of platelets and the formation of blood clots. This can causedeep vein thrombosis (DVT), the obstruction of blood flow to the leg, which can trigger symptoms of pain, swelling, warmth, and cramping.
If not treated appropriately, the blood clot can dislodge and move from the leg to the brain, heart, and lungs, where it can cause a stroke, heart attack, orpulmonary embolism.
The symptoms ofCrohn’s diseasecan be so diverse and variable that it may be difficult to know when to see a practitioner.
See a Healthcare Provider If You Have:Ongoing bouts of diarrhea that don’t respond to over-the-counter (OTC) remediesAbdominal pain that is either persistent or recurringBlood in the stoolUnexplained weight lossUnexplained fever lasting for more than a couple of daysA family history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
See a Healthcare Provider If You Have:
Ongoing bouts of diarrhea that don’t respond to over-the-counter (OTC) remediesAbdominal pain that is either persistent or recurringBlood in the stoolUnexplained weight lossUnexplained fever lasting for more than a couple of daysA family history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
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The good news is that, if treated appropriately, the outlook for people living with Crohn’s disease is very positive. Despite its impact on your health, it is not a condition associated with a shortened lifespan. With earlydiagnosisandtreatment, you can avoid many of the long-term complications of the disease.
Crohn’s disease causes symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and weight loss. Complications can include bowel obstruction, fistulas, and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. It can also lead to arthritis, skin ulcers, osteoporosis, and liver issues. Neurological and circulatory symptoms, including anemia and blood clots, are also possible.
Timely diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes, allowing many to manage the disease effectively and avoid severe complications, with no impact on life expectancy.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn Disease: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010de Dios-Duarte MJ, Arias A, Durantez-Fernández C, Niño Martín V, Olea E, Barba-Pérez MÁ, Pérez-Pérez L, Cárdaba-García RM, Barrón A.Flare-Ups in Crohn’s Disease: Influence of Stress and the External Locus of Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 12;19(20):13131. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013131. PMID: 36293710; PMCID: PMC9603201.American Cancer Society.Colorectal Cancer Risk FactorsKim, E. and Chang, D.Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: The risk, pathogenesis, prevention and diagnosis.World J Gastroenterol.2014; 20(29):9872-81. DOI:10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9872Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Bone Loss in IBDGasparetto M, Guariso G.Crohn’s disease and growth deficiency in children and adolescents. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct 7;20(37):13219-33. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13219. PMID: 25309059; PMCID: PMC4188880.Yale Medicine.Pediatric Crohn’s disease.Scott C, Patel A, Maka N, MacDonald JC.Crohn’s disease of the gallbladder. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Sep 22;14(9):e243579. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243579. PMID: 34551912; PMCID: PMC8461286.Nemati R, Mehdizadeh S, Salimipour H, et al.Neurological manifestations related to Crohn’s disease: a boon for the workforce. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2019;7(4):291-297. doi:10.1093/gastro/gox034Penn Medicine.What is Anemia?Andersen NN, Jess T.Risk of cardiovascular disease in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2014;5(3):359-65. doi:+10.4291/wjgp.v5.i3.359Additional ReadingBaumgart, D.Crohn’s disease.Lancet.2012; 380(9853):1590-1605 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60026-9.Ha, F. and Khalil, H.Crohn’s disease: a clinical update.Therap Adv Gastroenterol.2015; 8(6):352-359. DOI: 10.1177/1756283X15592585.Nemati, R.; Mehdizadeh, S.; Salimipour, H. et al.Neurological manifestations related to Crohn’s disease: a boon for the workforce.Gastroenter Rep.2017; gox034. DOI: 10.1093/gastro/gox034.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn Disease: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010de Dios-Duarte MJ, Arias A, Durantez-Fernández C, Niño Martín V, Olea E, Barba-Pérez MÁ, Pérez-Pérez L, Cárdaba-García RM, Barrón A.Flare-Ups in Crohn’s Disease: Influence of Stress and the External Locus of Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 12;19(20):13131. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013131. PMID: 36293710; PMCID: PMC9603201.American Cancer Society.Colorectal Cancer Risk FactorsKim, E. and Chang, D.Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: The risk, pathogenesis, prevention and diagnosis.World J Gastroenterol.2014; 20(29):9872-81. DOI:10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9872Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Bone Loss in IBDGasparetto M, Guariso G.Crohn’s disease and growth deficiency in children and adolescents. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct 7;20(37):13219-33. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13219. PMID: 25309059; PMCID: PMC4188880.Yale Medicine.Pediatric Crohn’s disease.Scott C, Patel A, Maka N, MacDonald JC.Crohn’s disease of the gallbladder. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Sep 22;14(9):e243579. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243579. PMID: 34551912; PMCID: PMC8461286.Nemati R, Mehdizadeh S, Salimipour H, et al.Neurological manifestations related to Crohn’s disease: a boon for the workforce. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2019;7(4):291-297. doi:10.1093/gastro/gox034Penn Medicine.What is Anemia?Andersen NN, Jess T.Risk of cardiovascular disease in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2014;5(3):359-65. doi:+10.4291/wjgp.v5.i3.359Additional ReadingBaumgart, D.Crohn’s disease.Lancet.2012; 380(9853):1590-1605 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60026-9.Ha, F. and Khalil, H.Crohn’s disease: a clinical update.Therap Adv Gastroenterol.2015; 8(6):352-359. DOI: 10.1177/1756283X15592585.Nemati, R.; Mehdizadeh, S.; Salimipour, H. et al.Neurological manifestations related to Crohn’s disease: a boon for the workforce.Gastroenter Rep.2017; gox034. DOI: 10.1093/gastro/gox034.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn Disease: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010de Dios-Duarte MJ, Arias A, Durantez-Fernández C, Niño Martín V, Olea E, Barba-Pérez MÁ, Pérez-Pérez L, Cárdaba-García RM, Barrón A.Flare-Ups in Crohn’s Disease: Influence of Stress and the External Locus of Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 12;19(20):13131. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013131. PMID: 36293710; PMCID: PMC9603201.American Cancer Society.Colorectal Cancer Risk FactorsKim, E. and Chang, D.Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: The risk, pathogenesis, prevention and diagnosis.World J Gastroenterol.2014; 20(29):9872-81. DOI:10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9872Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Bone Loss in IBDGasparetto M, Guariso G.Crohn’s disease and growth deficiency in children and adolescents. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct 7;20(37):13219-33. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13219. PMID: 25309059; PMCID: PMC4188880.Yale Medicine.Pediatric Crohn’s disease.Scott C, Patel A, Maka N, MacDonald JC.Crohn’s disease of the gallbladder. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Sep 22;14(9):e243579. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243579. PMID: 34551912; PMCID: PMC8461286.Nemati R, Mehdizadeh S, Salimipour H, et al.Neurological manifestations related to Crohn’s disease: a boon for the workforce. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2019;7(4):291-297. doi:10.1093/gastro/gox034Penn Medicine.What is Anemia?Andersen NN, Jess T.Risk of cardiovascular disease in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2014;5(3):359-65. doi:+10.4291/wjgp.v5.i3.359
Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn Disease: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010
de Dios-Duarte MJ, Arias A, Durantez-Fernández C, Niño Martín V, Olea E, Barba-Pérez MÁ, Pérez-Pérez L, Cárdaba-García RM, Barrón A.Flare-Ups in Crohn’s Disease: Influence of Stress and the External Locus of Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 12;19(20):13131. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013131. PMID: 36293710; PMCID: PMC9603201.
American Cancer Society.Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors
Kim, E. and Chang, D.Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: The risk, pathogenesis, prevention and diagnosis.World J Gastroenterol.2014; 20(29):9872-81. DOI:10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9872
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Bone Loss in IBD
Gasparetto M, Guariso G.Crohn’s disease and growth deficiency in children and adolescents. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct 7;20(37):13219-33. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13219. PMID: 25309059; PMCID: PMC4188880.
Yale Medicine.Pediatric Crohn’s disease.
Scott C, Patel A, Maka N, MacDonald JC.Crohn’s disease of the gallbladder. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Sep 22;14(9):e243579. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243579. PMID: 34551912; PMCID: PMC8461286.
Nemati R, Mehdizadeh S, Salimipour H, et al.Neurological manifestations related to Crohn’s disease: a boon for the workforce. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2019;7(4):291-297. doi:10.1093/gastro/gox034
Penn Medicine.What is Anemia?
Andersen NN, Jess T.Risk of cardiovascular disease in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2014;5(3):359-65. doi:+10.4291/wjgp.v5.i3.359
Baumgart, D.Crohn’s disease.Lancet.2012; 380(9853):1590-1605 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60026-9.Ha, F. and Khalil, H.Crohn’s disease: a clinical update.Therap Adv Gastroenterol.2015; 8(6):352-359. DOI: 10.1177/1756283X15592585.Nemati, R.; Mehdizadeh, S.; Salimipour, H. et al.Neurological manifestations related to Crohn’s disease: a boon for the workforce.Gastroenter Rep.2017; gox034. DOI: 10.1093/gastro/gox034.
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