When should you worry about diarrhoea if you have Crohn's disease?

Diarrhoea is a common presentation of Crohn's Disease. It may occur when inflammation affects the bowel, but an infection, medicine side effect, or another problem can produce a similar change. A new pattern should not automatically be labelled a flare.

Pay attention to frequency, urgency, night-time stools, abdominal pain, appetite, temperature, energy, and weight. Blood or mucus, reduced urine, dizziness, and inability to maintain fluids make the situation more urgent.

Follow your written Crohn's plan if you have one and keep taking regular medicines unless your clinician tells you otherwise. Sip fluids often; oral rehydration solution may help when losses are substantial. Choose foods you know you tolerate while symptoms settle, and record each stool and any blood.

Contact your gastroenterology or primary-care team early if the pattern is different from your usual symptoms. They may need to check for infection, inflammation, anaemia, or medicine-related effects before changing treatment.

Go to urgent care for severe or steadily increasing abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen, repeated vomiting, heavy or persistent rectal bleeding, fainting, confusion, or inability to drink. Seek prompt advice for fever with a bowel change or signs of dehydration such as very little urine and marked dizziness.

Bring a list of medicines, recent antibiotics, travel or sick contacts, and your symptom record. This information helps distinguish a flare from infection and guides safe treatment.

Ask what symptoms define your flare plan, whether stool or blood tests are needed, how to manage fluids, and which medicines should be paused or continued during severe diarrhoea.