 

 ALERT: Your health is top priority. We’re committed to providing reliable COVID-19 resources to keep you informed and
safe.

  Health  Digestive Health  Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes
inflammation in the digestive tract. Symptoms of Crohn’s include stomach cramps,
severe diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain and malnutrition. It most often affects the
small intestine and part of the large intestine, but it can affect any part of the
digestive tract.

By
Michelle Llamas
Edited By
Sophia Clifton
Medically Reviewed by
Carl V. Crawford, M.D.
This page features
8 Cited Research Articles

Last Modified: May 24, 2022

FACT CHECKED 
WHY TRUST DRUGWATCH?

More than half a million Americans have Crohn’s disease, and it’s becoming more
common, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases.

Most people find out they have Crohn’s in their 20s and 30s, but it can happen to anyone
at any age. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common types of
i fl t b l di Whil C h ’ ff t t f th di ti t t it
inflammatory bowel disease. While Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract, it
typically affects the small intestine and parts of the large intestine (colon). It can attack

some parts of the digestive tract while skipping over other parts. Ulcerative colitis only
causes inflammation in the large intestine and does not skip sections of the tract.

There is no cure for Crohn’s. While its symptoms or complications can be life threatening,
it’s not a fatal disease. People with Crohn’s have a similar life expectancy to people without
it, but their quality of life will be decreased. With the proper treatment, people with the
disease can manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Five Types of Disease

There are five types of Crohn’s disease according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
These are ileocolitis, ileitis, gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease, jejunoileitis and Crohn’s colitis.
Some medical centers recognize a sixth type called perianal disease.
Each type affects a different part of the digestive tract and causes different symptoms and
complications.

Ileocolitis

Ileocolitis is the most common type of Crohn’s disease, and it affects about 50 percent of
patients, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The end of the small intestine
and the large intestine are affected.

It causes pain in the lower and middle abdomen. Other symptoms include cramping,
diarrhea and significant weight loss.

Ileitis

Ileitis only affects the ileum, the last part of the intestine. About 30 percent of Crohn’s
patients experience this type.

It has the same symptoms as ileocolitis, but severe cases may cause abscesses in the lower
part of the abdomen and fistulas — abnormal connections between two body parts, such
as organs or blood vessels.

Gastroduodenal Crohn’s Disease

Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease is also called upper GI Crohn’s disease, and it affects the
stomach and the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum. This type is
uncommon and affects about five percent of patients.

Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, weight loss, loss of appetite and pain in the upper
abdomen.

Jejunoileitis

Jejunoileitis affects the upper half of the small intestine, called the jejunum. It causes
patchy areas of inflammation and is uncommon.

Symptoms include abdominal pain after eating that may be mild to intense weight loss
Symptoms include abdominal pain after eating that may be mild to intense, weight loss,
diarrhea and malnutrition. In severe cases, fistulas may form.

Crohn’s (Granulomatous) Colitis

Crohn’s colitis only affects the large intestine, or colon, and affects about 20 percent of
patients. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, diarrhea and anal disorders
such as abscesses and ulcers. People who have this type may also develop joint pains and
skin lesions.

Perianal Disease

Perianal disease affects the anus — up to one-third of Crohn’s patients have this type of
disease. Symptoms include fistulas, sores or ulcerations, abscesses and skin tags outside
the anus.

Diarrhea and Other Symptoms

Symptoms of Crohn’s range from mild to very severe. For example, people with mild
disease may have abdominal pain or frequent diarrhea, but can eat normally and don’t
have weight loss. People with very severe disease have high fevers, persistent vomiting,
intestinal obstructions or abscesses and severe weight loss.

While Crohn’s affects the digestive tract, it may also cause extraintestinal symptoms. These
symptoms affect parts of the body outside the digestive tract, such as the eyes, joints and
skin.

Symptoms of Crohn’s include:

Abdominal tenderness and pain

Anal fissures

Diarrhea

Extraintestinal symptoms affecting the joints, skin, liver, and eyes

 Fatigue

Fever

Fistulas, obstructions, perforations and abscesses

Growth problems in children

Loss of appetite

Perianal lesions

Rectal bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms

Vomiting

Weight loss

Z A N TAC & C R O H N ' S D I S E A S E

Some people who have been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac
have also been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

LEARN MORE

Causes

Researchers don’t fully understand what causes Crohn’s. At one time, doctors speculated
that stress and diet might cause the disease. More studies led doctors to believe that while
these factors may aggravate symptoms, they don’t cause Crohn’s.

Now, the most popular theory is that Crohn’s is an autoimmune condition. This means that
the immune system overreacts to bacteria or viruses in the gastrointestinal tract. While
attempting to fight these organisms, it also attacks healthy cells, causing chronic
inflammation.
Some scientists believe that certain people’s genes may make them more susceptible to
having Crohn’s.

People who have been diagnosed with cancer after taking the antacid Zantac may also
receive a Crohn’s diagnosis from their doctor. Stomach, intestine, colorectal and bladder
cancers are a handful of the main cancers associated with Zantac in claims.

ADVERTISEMENT

Risk Factors

While researchers don’t know what causes Crohn’s, certain factors increase a person’s risk
for developing the disease.

Risk factors include:

Age
People of any age can get Crohn's disease, but younger people between the ages of 15
and 35 are at the highest risk.

Ethnicity
Crohn’s disease is most common in Caucasians, especially people of Ashkenazi Jewish
descent. However, the incidence of Crohn's disease is increasing among Asians and
Hispanics as well as African Americans.

Family Members with Crohn’s

People who have a parent, sibling or child with Crohn’s are at greater risk of developing
the disease. As many as 1 in 5 people (20 percent) with the disease have a family member
with the disease.

Smoking Cigarettes
 g g
People who smoke are at greater risk for Crohn’s, and smoking can make existing disease
more severe. While many risks for Crohn’s are out of a person’s control, smoking is a
modifiable risk. This means people may lower their risk if they stop smoking.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Using NSAIDs doesn’t cause Crohn's disease, but it can make symptoms worse.

Environmental Factors
Crohn’s is more prevalent in developed countries and urban towns and cities than in
undeveloped countries and rural areas. The disease is also more prevalent in northern
climates.

People who have Crohn’s are at risk for several complications from bowel obstructions to
colon cancer.

Complications of Crohn’s include:

Abscesses, painful pockets of infection filled with pus

Acid reflux can occur in people whose disease affects the esophagus

Anal fissures, painful tears in the anus that cause bleeding and itching

Bowel obstructions, caused by thickening of intestinal walls, can block stool

or food from moving through the digestive tract

Colon cancer is more likely to develop in people with untreated Crohn’s in

their large intestine

Eye inflammation

Fistulas

Gallstones and gallbladder disease are more likely to occur in people with
Crohn’s
 Higher risk of premature labor or low birth weight if mothers have flare-ups
of disease during pregnancy

Joint inflammation

Malnutrition, including anemia from low iron and B-12

Skin problems

Ulcers may occur in the intestines, mouth or anus

Kidney stones

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors diagnose Crohn’s with blood tests, fecal tests and imaging procedures that look
inside the colon, such as a colonoscopy, CT scans and MRIs.

Crohn’s disease has no cure, so treatment focuses on preventing complications, healing

the intestinal lining and preventing surgery. Each person’s treatment plan is different
depending on the severity of the disease.

Medications

Medications for Crohn’s suppress the immune system to treat symptoms or complications
such as diarrhea and infections.

ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotics treat infections which can lead to can lead to abscesses. These include
ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, ampicillin and metronidazole.

ANTIDIARRHEAL MEDICATION

People with Crohn’s may have severe diarrhea. Antidiarrheal drugs — such as Imodium A-
D (loperamide), Lomocot, Lomotil (diphenoxylate), Prevalite and Questran (cholostyramine)
and Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) — can help manage this symptom.
IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPRESSORS

These medications suppress the immune system to calm inflammation. Examples include
Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab), Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), Trexall
(methotrexate), Stelara, (ustekinumab) and Entyvio (vedolizumab).

CORTICOSTEROIDS

Prednisone, cortisone and other corticosteroids reduce inflammation. These should not be
used long term and are usually a bridge to stronger medications.

Nutrition and Diet

Diet doesn’t cause Crohn’s but certain foods may make symptoms worse. It’s also
important to eat a healthy diet to replace lost nutrients and promote healing.

For people with Crohn’s, eating can be uncomfortable because of pain in the abdomen.
Loss of appetite may also make it difficult to eat. Additionally, diarrhea can make it more
difficult for the body to absorb nutrients.

There is no specific meal plan for Crohn’s patients, but the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
recommends eating smaller meals, drinking slowly, preparing meals in advance and using
simple techniques such as steaming, poaching, grilling or steaming.

Foods to avoid during a flare up include:

Foods with a lot of fiber that are hard to digest, such as raw green
vegetables, whole nuts, whole grains and fruits with seeds and skin

Lactose-containing dairy

Sugary foods

Alcohol and caffeine

Spicy foods
 High fat foods such as butter, margarine, fried food and cream

Procedures

If medications aren’t enough, doctors may recommend other procedures to control

Crohn’s and treat complications.

BOWEL REST

Bowel rest involves not eating or drinking for several days or longer. This gives the
intestines a chance to heal. Patients will get their nutrition intravenously or through a
feeding tube.

SURGERY

Surgery isn’t a cure for Crohn’s but it may be necessary to treat complications such as
bleeding, fistulas, blockages or intestinal perforations (holes).

ADVERTISEMENT


Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.

SHARE THIS PAGE:

  

Related Pages 

 
 
 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
Did You Find Drugwatch Helpful?
 YES
NO

WRITTEN BY

Michelle Llamas
Senior Writer

Michelle Llamas has been writing articles and producing podcasts about drugs, medical devices and the
FDA for nearly a decade. She focuses on various medical conditions, health policy, COVID-19, LGBTQ
health, mental health and women’s health issues. Michelle collaborates with experts, including board-
certified doctors, patients and advocates, to provide trusted health information to the public. Some of
her qualifications include:

Member of American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and former Engage Committee and

Membership Committee member

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Literacy certificates

Original works published or cited in The Lancet, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and the

Journal for Palliative Medicine

 Patient Advocacy Certificate from University of Miami

EDITED BY

Sophia Clifton

Editor

MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY

Carl V. Crawford, M.D.

Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist
 8 Cited Research Articles

Drugwatch.com writers follow rigorous sourcing guidelines and cite only trustworthy sources of information, including peer-reviewed
journals, court records, academic organizations, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports and interviews with qualified
experts. Review our editorial policy to learn more about our process for producing accurate, current and balanced content.

1. Abbvie. (2013). What Is Crohn’s Disease? Retrieved from https://www.humira.com/crohns/about-crohns-disease/what-

is-crohns-disease

2. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. (n.d.). Crohn's Disease: Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from
https://www.bidmc.org/centers-and-departments/digestive-disease-center/services-and-programs/inflammatory-bowel-
disease-program/about-us/crohnsdiseasefaq
VIEW SOURCES


Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Join our newsletter to stay up to date on dangerous drugs and devices, keep up on lawsuit
and settlement news, learn about FDA recalls, and more.

SIGN UP NOW 

N AV I G AT E

FAQ Health Info

Lawsuits Devices

FDA Drugwatch Podcast

News Side Effects

Drugs Beyond Side Effects

Keep people safe from potentially harmful drugs, medical devices and procedures by informing them of medical
conditions, severe side effects and ways to take action.

MORE ABOUT US 


(888) 645-1617
 Who Am I Calling?

   

This site complies with the HONcode

standard for trustworthy health
information: Verify here.

Drugwatch is located at:

1 South Orange Ave, Suite 201, Orlando, FL 32801

The information on this website is proprietary and protected. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or
treatment. Any unauthorized or illegal use, copying or dissemination will be prosecuted. Please read our disclaimer for more
information about our website.

Drugwatch.com partners with law firms. This website and its content may be deemed attorney advertising. Prior results do not
predict a similar outcome. For more information, visit our partners page.

© 2022 Drugwatch.com Privacy Policy / Advertising Disclosure / Do Not Sell My Info