Stricture in Crohn's disease: what to know

Crohn's disease can make the bowel wall swollen and inflamed. Over time, healing can leave scar tissue that makes the passage narrower. Some strictures are mainly inflammatory and may improve when Crohn's activity is treated; scar-dominant narrowing may need a different approach. Symptoms can include cramping abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, or changes in stool passage. [Abdominal Pain](/symptoms/abdominal-pain/) and [Diarrhoea](/symptoms/diarrhoea/) can also occur with Crohn's disease, but symptoms alone cannot show how narrow the bowel is.

Arrange review with your gastroenterology team or a GP, especially if symptoms are new or changing. Assessment may include your symptom pattern, examination, blood tests, stool tests, and bowel imaging or endoscopy. A [Blood Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/blood-test/) can help look for inflammation or anaemia, while it cannot measure the narrowing by itself.

Follow the eating and medicine advice given for your situation. Do not make a major restriction to your diet without guidance, because avoiding too many foods can reduce nutrition. A [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/) can help coordinate review and referral.

Seek urgent medical help for severe or increasing colicky pain, repeated vomiting, marked abdominal swelling, or inability to pass stool or gas. These can signal significant blockage. Urgent assessment is also needed if you feel faint, become confused, or cannot keep fluids down. Do not wait for a routine appointment if symptoms rapidly worsen.

Is the narrowing more likely to be active inflammation, scar tissue, or both? Which test will show its location and severity? What symptoms mean I should go to urgent care? How can I maintain nutrition while symptoms are active? Could my current Crohn's treatment need adjustment?