How is Crohn's disease treated?

Treatment depends on which part of the digestive tract is affected, how active the inflammation is, previous treatment and whether complications are present. Medicines may reduce inflammation, calm an overactive immune response or maintain remission. A specialist may use blood tests, stool tests, scans or an examination of the bowel to understand disease activity.

Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, blood in stool and unintentional weight loss. These symptoms need assessment because they can reflect active inflammation, infection, medicine effects or another bowel problem.

Take prescribed medicines on schedule and do not stop them suddenly without advice, even when symptoms improve. Keep appointments so your clinician can review symptoms, blood results, nutrition and medicine side effects. A balanced eating plan may need adjustment during a flare, and a dietitian can help when food restriction, poor appetite or weight loss makes nutrition difficult.

A GP consultation can help coordinate assessment and referral. Blood tests may check inflammation, anaemia, hydration and nutritional concerns, but results are interpreted alongside your symptoms.

Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen with vomiting, heavy or persistent bleeding, high fever with marked illness, or inability to keep fluids down. Contact your care team promptly if diarrhoea suddenly worsens, you are losing weight without trying or prescribed treatment is causing worrying effects.

Ask what your treatment is intended to achieve, how you will know whether inflammation is settling, which monitoring tests are needed and what to do if a dose is missed. Ask whether you need nutrition advice, specialist review or a plan for future flares.