What should you know about side effects of Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease causes inflammation in parts of the digestive tract. Most people with Crohn's disease notice symptoms such as Abdominal Pain, Diarrhoea, urgency, reduced appetite, or tiredness during active inflammation. Ongoing inflammation or reduced intake can contribute to weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Some people also develop joint pain, mouth ulcers, skin changes, or eye inflammation, so symptoms are not always limited to the bowel.

Symptoms may come and go, and their pattern can change. A flare can resemble an infection or another bowel problem, so a new or sharply different pattern deserves assessment rather than self-diagnosis.

Take prescribed treatment consistently and keep a record of bowel frequency, pain, bleeding, appetite, food tolerance, temperature, and weight changes. Drink enough fluid unless your clinician has given different advice, and choose foods you can tolerate while maintaining nourishment. Arrange a GP Consultation when symptoms persist, medicines cause problems, or you suspect a flare. A Blood Test may help assess inflammation, anaemia, or nutritional concerns.

Seek urgent help for severe or worsening abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen with vomiting, heavy rectal bleeding, black stools, high fever, faintness, or inability to keep fluids down. Contact your medical team promptly if diarrhoea is frequent, you are becoming dehydrated, or prescribed treatment is not controlling a flare. Sudden severe symptoms can signal a complication requiring hospital assessment.

Ask how to recognise your flare pattern, which medicines to pause or continue during illness, what dietary support is suitable, and when blood tests or specialist review should be arranged.