---
title: "Crohn’s Disease Symptoms: Early Signs, Flares and When to Get Help"
description: "Crohn’s disease symptoms: diarrhoea, belly pain, tiredness and weight loss, early signs that are easy to miss, flares, Crohn’s vs IBS and when to get help."
canonical_url: "https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms"
md_url: "https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms.md"
last_updated: "2026-10-22"
language: en
---

# Crohn’s Disease Symptoms: Early Signs, Flares and When to Get Help

Crohn’s disease can cause symptoms in the gut and in other parts of the body. Here is what to look out for, how it differs from ulcerative colitis and IBS, and what to write down for your doctor.

![](https://junocompanion.com/_vercel/image?q=75&url=%2Fwebsite-assets%2Fmarshall-gould-headshot-v1.jpg&w=480)

Published by [Marshall Gould](https://junocompanion.com/authors/marshall-gould)

Published 22 October 2026Updated 22 October 202610 min read

![A woman in a blue knitted top lies on her side on a beige sofa with her eyes closed and both hands pressed to her stomach.](https://junocompanion.com/_vercel/image?q=75&url=%2Fwebsite-assets%2Fjuno-blog-crohns-disease-symptoms.webp&w=2048)

## Quick answer

The most common Crohn’s disease symptoms are diarrhoea, tummy pain or cramps and weight loss, often with tiredness, fever or blood in your poo. Symptoms usually come and go in flare-ups, and some people first notice mouth ulcers, sore joints or eyes, or pain around the bottom.

## Key takeaways

-   The main symptoms are diarrhoea, tummy pain and weight loss. Tiredness, fever and blood or mucus in your poo are also common.
-   Pain is often in the lower right or middle of the belly when Crohn’s affects the end of the small bowel.
-   Up to half of people with Crohn’s get problems outside the gut, such as sore joints, red eyes, skin lumps or mouth ulcers.
-   In a review of 101 studies, the median time from first symptoms to a Crohn’s diagnosis was 8 months, so a clear symptom record helps.

Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition where parts of the gut become inflamed. It can affect any part of the gut, from the mouth to the bottom, but most often the small bowel and the start of the large bowel. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) [\[6\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-6)

Symptoms depend on where the inflammation is and how active it is. They usually come and go. Times with symptoms are called flare-ups, and calmer times are called remission. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) [\[2\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-2)

## What are the most common Crohn’s disease symptoms?

The most common symptoms are diarrhoea, tummy pain or cramps, and weight loss. [\[2\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-2) You may also have:

-   **Diarrhoea** that is looser and more frequent than is normal for you. It may contain mucus, pus or blood. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **Tummy pain and cramps.** Pain in the lower right or middle of the belly is common when Crohn’s affects the end of the small bowel. [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5)
-   **Needing the toilet urgently.** [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[4\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-4)
-   **Extreme tiredness (fatigue).** It can have several causes, such as anaemia or poor sleep. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **Loss of appetite and weight loss.** Inflammation can stop your body absorbing nutrients from food. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **Blood or mucus in your poo.** [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1)
-   **Fever, or feeling generally unwell.** [\[2\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-2) [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)

Some people get constipation instead of diarrhoea. Feeling sick, being sick and pain around the bottom are other symptoms. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) [\[2\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-2)

Symptoms most often start in teenagers and young adults, but Crohn’s can start at any age. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1)

## Early or easily missed signs of Crohn’s

Crohn’s most often begins slowly and gets worse over time, so early signs are easy to put down to something else. [\[6\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-6) In a review of 101 studies, the median time from first symptoms to a Crohn’s diagnosis was 8 months. [\[16\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-16)

Signs that are easy to miss include:

-   **Mouth ulcers.** They are painful, shallow and round, and often appear during flare-ups. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **Problems around the bottom**, such as small tears (anal fissures), skin tags, abscesses or a fistula that leaks pus or poo. Some people notice these before any other gut symptoms. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **Anaemia.** It can make you very tired, short of breath or weak. It can come from blood loss or from not absorbing enough iron. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **Slow growth or delayed puberty in children**, or not gaining weight as expected. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) [\[6\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-6)
-   **Sore joints, red eyes or skin lumps.** In a Swiss study of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), about 1 in 4 of those with problems outside the gut had the first one before their IBD was diagnosed. [\[8\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-8)

## Crohn’s symptoms outside the gut

Up to half of people with IBD have at least one problem outside the gut. Doctors call these extraintestinal manifestations. They usually happen during a flare-up, but can happen without or before gut symptoms. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[7\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-7)

| Where | What it can look like | Worth knowing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Joints | Pain or swelling, often in the large joints of the legs [\[7\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-7) | Often worse in a flare and better with Crohn’s treatment, but can continue when the gut is calm [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Skin: erythema nodosum | Raised, tender, red or violet lumps, usually on the shins [\[7\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-7) | Affects about 4 to 15 in 100 people with Crohn’s, usually during flare-ups [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Skin: pyoderma gangrenosum | Small tender blisters or spots that become painful, deep ulcers, often on the legs or near a stoma [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) | Often treated with steroids or biologic medicines [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Eyes: episcleritis | Red, itchy and sometimes painful eyes [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) | Tends to flare at the same time as gut symptoms [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Eyes: uveitis | Eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, headache [\[7\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-7) | Can lead to loss of vision, so it needs urgent help from an eye specialist [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[7\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-7) |
| Mouth | Painful, shallow, round ulcers [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) | Often appear during flare-ups [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Liver and bile ducts | Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC): tiredness, itching, weight loss, yellow skin or eyes [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) | Affects about 1 in 50 people with IBD [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Bones | Thinner, weaker bones (osteoporosis) [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) | More likely with ongoing inflammation, smoking or steroids [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |

Gallstones, kidney stones and blood clots are also more common with Crohn’s. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) Tell your IBD team or GP about any new symptom, even if it seems to have nothing to do with your gut. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)

## Can Crohn’s disease affect your face?

Yes, in a few ways. Crohn’s can show up in and around the mouth and on the skin, and steroid treatment can change the shape of the face.

-   **Mouth ulcers.** Painful, shallow, round ulcers, often during flare-ups. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) Studies report mouth problems in 5% to 50% of people with IBD. [\[9\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-9)
-   **Oral Crohn’s disease.** Swollen lips and gums, and tears and ulcers inside the cheeks. It is more likely in children. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **Orofacial granulomatosis.** A condition that looks very like oral Crohn’s, with swelling of the lips, gums and inside of the mouth. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[10\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-10) In a review of 507 reported cases, it usually happened on its own. But people whose swelling started in childhood had a higher risk of developing Crohn’s. [\[10\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-10)
-   **Tender red lumps on the face, neck or arms.** This is called Sweet syndrome. It can come with a fever and is linked to active Crohn’s. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[7\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-7)
-   **Redness on the cheeks or nose.** Rosacea may be linked to Crohn’s. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)
-   **A rounder face from steroids.** Steroids for flare-ups can make your body hold more fluid, giving a more rounded face and more fat around the middle. This is a side effect of the medicine, not of Crohn’s itself. [\[11\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-11)

## Crohn’s symptoms by where it is in the gut

Symptoms often depend on which part of the gut is inflamed. But symptoms don’t always match where the disease is, so only tests can show for sure. [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5)

| Type | Where it is | Typical symptoms |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ileal (ileitis) | End of the small bowel (ileum) | Cramping, diarrhoea, pain in the lower right of the belly, weight loss, tiredness [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) |
| Ileocolonic (ileocolitis) | End of the small bowel and the large bowel. The most common type, in about half of people with Crohn’s [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) | Cramping, diarrhoea, pain in the middle or lower right of the belly, a lot of weight loss [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) |
| Colonic (Crohn’s colitis) | Large bowel only, in about 1 in 5 people with Crohn’s [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) | Diarrhoea that may contain blood or mucus, urgency, bleeding from the bottom, tiredness [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) |
| Upper gut | Oesophagus, stomach or the first part of the small bowel | Heartburn, indigestion-like pain, feeling or being sick, loss of appetite, weight loss [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) |
| Perianal | Around the bottom | Tears, skin tags, abscesses or fistulas. Pain may get worse when you sit, move, poo or cough [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |

About 1 in 3 people with Crohn’s also have perianal disease. [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5)

Specialists often describe Crohn’s using the Montreal classification. In plain words, it records three things: [\[12\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-12)

-   **Age at diagnosis:** A1 is 16 or younger, A2 is 17 to 40, and A3 is over 40.
-   **Location:** L1 is the end of the small bowel (ileal), L2 is the large bowel (colonic) and L3 is both (ileocolonic). L4 is added when the upper gut is affected.
-   **Behaviour:** B1 is inflammation without narrowing or tunnels, B2 is narrowing (stricturing) and B3 is tunnels or holes (penetrating). A small “p” is added for perianal disease.

So “A2 L3 B1p” means Crohn’s diagnosed between 17 and 40, in both the small and large bowel, without narrowing or tunnels, plus perianal disease. [\[12\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-12)

## What a Crohn’s flare feels like, and what remission feels like

A flare-up is when symptoms come back and you feel unwell. Everyone’s flares are different. Signs of a flare can include: [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)

-   looser poo or diarrhoea
-   tummy pain
-   weight loss when you are not trying to lose weight
-   feeling generally unwell
-   joint pain and swelling, sore eyes, mouth ulcers, skin rashes or tiredness

A flare can last from a few days to several months. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) Some people go years without one, while others flare more often. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)

Remission is when Crohn’s is well controlled. Diarrhoea, urgency and cramps get better, but tiredness may not go away completely. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) Remission can last for weeks or years. [\[6\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-6)

Possible flare triggers include smoking, changes to your medicines, ongoing stress and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) A stool test called faecal calprotectin can pick up a relapse before symptoms come back. [\[15\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-15)

Not sure if new symptoms are a flare or a medicine side effect? See [how to tell a flare from a side effect](https://junocompanion.com/blog/treatments-and-medication/flare-or-medication-side-effect).

## Crohn’s vs ulcerative colitis vs IBS

Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are both types of inflammatory bowel disease. IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a different condition. Some symptoms overlap, but treatment is not the same. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)

|  | Crohn’s disease | Ulcerative colitis | IBS |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Where | Anywhere from mouth to bottom, most often the small bowel and the start of the large bowel [\[6\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-6) | Large bowel and rectum only [\[17\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-17) | The gut, with no inflammation [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Inflammation | In patches, and can go through all layers of the bowel wall [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) | Starts at the rectum and spreads up the large bowel, in the inner lining [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) [\[18\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-18) | None [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Typical pain | Often lower right or middle of the belly [\[5\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-5) | Often lower left, and may ease after a poo [\[17\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-17) | Usually worse after eating and better after a poo [\[19\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-19) |
| Blood in poo | Can happen [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) | Common [\[17\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-17) | No [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) |
| Other signs | Weight loss, tiredness, fever, mouth ulcers, problems around the bottom [\[2\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-2) [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) | Urgency, pooing at night, feeling you need to poo when your bowel is empty [\[17\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-17) | Bloating, diarrhoea or constipation, farting [\[19\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-19) |

Some people with Crohn’s also get IBS-type symptoms, such as diarrhoea when their Crohn’s is not active. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)

If you already have a diagnosis, see how Juno helps you track [ulcerative colitis](https://junocompanion.com/chronic-illness-support/ulcerative-colitis) or [IBS](https://junocompanion.com/chronic-illness-support/irritable-bowel-syndrome).

## How Crohn’s disease is diagnosed

There is no single test for Crohn’s. Doctors put together your symptoms, a physical exam and several tests. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) [\[13\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-13) [\[15\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-15)

-   **Blood tests** look for anaemia, a high white blood cell count and a raised C-reactive protein (CRP), which can mean inflammation. [\[13\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-13) Read more about [high CRP results](https://junocompanion.com/blog/appointments-and-advocacy/high-esr-and-crp-blood-tests).
-   **Stool tests** rule out infection and look for inflammation. [\[13\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-13) Faecal calprotectin is a sensitive marker of gut inflammation. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[15\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-15) NICE recommends it to help tell IBD from IBS in adults with recent bowel symptoms. [\[14\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-14)
-   **Colonoscopy with biopsies.** A thin tube with a camera looks at the large bowel and the end of the small bowel, and small tissue samples are taken. Endoscopy is the most accurate way to diagnose Crohn’s. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[13\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-13)
-   **Small bowel checks.** An MRI or CT scan, an ultrasound, or a capsule camera that you swallow. European guidance says everyone newly diagnosed with Crohn’s should have their small bowel checked. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) [\[13\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-13) [\[15\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-15)

Getting a diagnosis can take time, because symptoms vary and look like other conditions. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1)

## What to write down for your doctor

Doctors will ask what gut symptoms you’ve had, how often and how much they affect you. They may also ask about symptoms at night, and in your mouth, skin, eyes, joints or around your bottom. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3)

A short daily note is enough. Write down:

-   how many times you poo in the day and at night, and what it looks like
-   any blood or mucus, and roughly how much
-   where the pain is, how bad it is from 0 to 10, and what makes it better or worse
-   your weight, once a week
-   anything that wakes you at night
-   mouth ulcers, sore joints, red eyes, skin changes or pain around your bottom
-   fever, and how tired you feel
-   what came before a bad day: food, stress, a missed or new medicine, or painkillers like ibuprofen

Keeping a diary of symptoms, food, medicine changes and stress can help you see what affects your symptoms. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1) Our free [food and symptom log](https://junocompanion.com/free-resources-and-worksheets/food-symptom-log) tracks meals, symptoms and timing. The [flare episode log](https://junocompanion.com/free-resources-and-worksheets/flare-episode-log) records when a flare started, possible triggers and how you recovered.

You can also tell Juno about your symptoms and flares by voice or text. Juno logs them and turns them into a dated summary to take to your appointment. See [how Juno works for Crohn’s](https://junocompanion.com/chronic-illness-support/crohns-disease).

## When it’s probably not Crohn’s

Many conditions cause similar symptoms, including IBS, ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease and coeliac disease. Don’t try to diagnose yourself. See a GP if you’re worried. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1)

-   **IBS:** pain that eases after a poo, bloating, and no blood in your poo. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[19\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-19) There is no test for IBS, so doctors use blood and stool tests to rule out other causes, including IBD. [\[20\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-20)
-   **A tummy bug:** loose stools lasting more than 6 weeks point more towards IBD than an infection. [\[15\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-15)
-   **Food:** lots of red or purple foods, such as beetroot or tomatoes, can make poo look like it has blood in it. [\[22\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-22)
-   **Piles or a small tear:** bright red blood with pain when you poo is often from piles (haemorrhoids) or an anal fissure. [\[22\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-22)

Bleeding from the bottom is sometimes a sign of bowel cancer, so get it checked. See a GP if you’ve had blood in your poo for 3 weeks, have lost weight for no reason or have been more tired than usual. [\[22\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-22) Ask for an urgent GP appointment, or call 111 in the UK, if your poo is black or dark red or you have bloody diarrhoea. [\[1\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-1)

If tiredness is your main problem, see why you might feel [tired after eating](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/tired-after-eating) or what causes [brain fog](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/brain-fog-causes).

## When to get emergency help

If a flare is getting worse, contact your IBD team or GP. Get emergency help for any of these.

### Call 999 (UK) or 911 (US), or go to A&E, if you have:

-   sudden or severe tummy pain
-   a tummy that hurts when you touch it
-   bleeding from your bottom that won’t stop
-   a lot of blood, such as red toilet water or large clots
-   vomit with blood in it, or that looks like coffee grounds
-   black, sticky and very smelly poo
-   no poo or wind passing, especially with vomiting and a swollen tummy (a possible blockage)
-   signs of dehydration with confusion, cold or blotchy skin, fast breathing or being very sleepy
-   collapsing

Severe, constant tummy pain with a high fever and vomiting can be a sign of a hole in the bowel. This is rare but serious. Don’t drive yourself to A&E or the emergency room. Ask someone to drive you or call for an ambulance. [\[3\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-3) [\[21\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-21) [\[22\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-22) [\[23\]](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms#source-23)

## Frequently asked questions

### What are the first signs of Crohn’s disease?

Often diarrhoea, tummy pain or cramps, tiredness and weight loss. Some people first notice mouth ulcers, pain or a fistula around the bottom, anaemia, sore joints or red eyes. In children, slow growth or delayed puberty can be an early sign. Crohn’s usually starts slowly, so these signs are easy to miss.

### Can Crohn’s disease start suddenly?

Crohn’s most often begins slowly and gets worse over time. In a review of 101 studies, the median time from first symptoms to a Crohn’s diagnosis was 8 months. Once you have Crohn’s, a flare can last from a few days to several months. Sudden, severe tummy pain always needs urgent medical help.

### What does Crohn’s pain feel like?

Most people describe cramping tummy pain. It can be mild or severe, may come with diarrhoea or cramps when you poo, and can be worse after eating when Crohn’s affects the small bowel. Severe pain with vomiting or a swollen tummy can mean a blockage and needs urgent care.

### Where is Crohn’s pain located?

Often in the lower right or middle of the belly, because Crohn’s often affects the end of the small bowel. Crohn’s in the stomach or upper gut can cause indigestion-like pain. Crohn’s around the bottom can cause pain from tears, abscesses or fistulas, which may be worse when you sit or poo.

### Can blood tests show Crohn’s disease?

Blood tests can show signs that fit Crohn’s, such as anaemia or a raised C-reactive protein (CRP), but no single test can diagnose it. Doctors also use a stool test called faecal calprotectin, a colonoscopy with biopsies, and scans such as MRI or CT to confirm the diagnosis.

### How is Crohn’s different from IBS?

Crohn’s causes inflammation in the gut and can cause blood in your poo, weight loss and fever. IBS does not cause inflammation or blood in your poo, and its pain usually eases after a poo. A faecal calprotectin stool test helps doctors tell them apart. Some people with Crohn’s also get IBS-type symptoms.

### Can Crohn’s disease cause fatigue?

Yes. Extreme tiredness is one of the most common Crohn’s symptoms. It can come from anaemia (from blood loss or not absorbing enough iron) or poor sleep, and it may not go away completely even in remission. Tell your doctor, because anaemia can be tested for and treated, for example with iron.

### What is the difference between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis?

Both are types of inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis affects only the large bowel and rectum, starting at the rectum and spreading up the bowel, in the inner lining. Crohn’s can affect any part of the gut from mouth to bottom, often in patches, and can go through all layers of the bowel wall.

## Tools that go with this article

-   [Free food and symptom log](https://junocompanion.com/free-resources-and-worksheets/food-symptom-log)
-   [Free flare episode log](https://junocompanion.com/free-resources-and-worksheets/flare-episode-log)
-   [Crohn’s disease symptom tracker](https://junocompanion.com/chronic-illness-support/crohns-disease)
-   [Ulcerative colitis symptom tracker](https://junocompanion.com/chronic-illness-support/ulcerative-colitis)
-   [IBS symptom tracker](https://junocompanion.com/chronic-illness-support/irritable-bowel-syndrome)
-   [Sample doctor report](https://junocompanion.com/example-report)

## Sources

1.  [NHS: Crohn’s disease](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease/)
2.  [NIDDK: Symptoms and causes of Crohn’s disease](https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes)
3.  [Crohn’s & Colitis UK: Crohn’s Disease](https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/understanding-crohns-and-colitis/crohns-disease)
4.  [Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation: Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/patientsandcaregivers/what-is-crohns-disease/symptoms)
5.  [Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (2025): The 5 types of Crohn’s disease](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/blog/the-5-types-of-crohns-disease-what-you-should-know)
6.  [NIDDK: Definition and facts for Crohn’s disease](https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease/definition-facts)
7.  [Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis (2016): The first European evidence-based consensus on extra-intestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease (ECCO)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4957476/)
8.  [Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (2015): Chronological order of appearance of extraintestinal manifestations relative to the time of IBD diagnosis in the Swiss IBD cohort](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26020601/)
9.  [Medicines (2020): Oral manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease and the role of non-invasive surrogate markers of disease activity](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7345678/)
10.  [Dermatology (2021): Orofacial granulomatosis and Crohn disease. Coincidence or pattern? A systematic review](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33582676/)
11.  [Crohn’s & Colitis UK: Steroids](https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/treatments/steroids)
12.  [Gut (2006): The Montreal classification of inflammatory bowel disease](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1856208/)
13.  [NIDDK: Diagnosis of Crohn’s disease](https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease/diagnosis)
14.  [NICE HTG320 (formerly DG11): Faecal calprotectin diagnostic tests for inflammatory diseases of the bowel](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/htg320/chapter/1-Recommendations)
15.  [Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis (2019): ECCO-ESGAR guideline for diagnostic assessment in IBD, part 1](https://academic.oup.com/ecco-jcc/article/13/2/144/5078195)
16.  [Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2023): Time to diagnosis and the impact of delayed diagnosis on clinical outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36627691/)
17.  [NHS: Ulcerative colitis](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/)
18.  [NIDDK: Definition and facts for ulcerative colitis](https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/ulcerative-colitis/definition-facts)
19.  [NHS: Symptoms of IBS](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/symptoms/)
20.  [NHS: Getting diagnosed with IBS](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/getting-diagnosed/)
21.  [NHS: Stomach ache](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-ache/)
22.  [NHS: Bleeding from the bottom (rectal bleeding)](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bleeding-from-the-bottom-rectal-bleeding/)
23.  [NHS: Dehydration](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dehydration/)

## Turn day-to-day notes into a clearer health story

Juno helps you track symptoms through conversation, notice patterns, and prepare a structured summary for appointments. [Explore Juno’s symptom tracker.](https://junocompanion.com/chronic-illness-support/tracker/symptoms) [Download Juno on the App Store.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/juno-chronic-illness-support/id6749455368)

[Back to Symptom tracking](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking)

This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your own clinician. Juno is a health assistant, not a medical provider.

Last updated 22 October 2026

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Source: [Crohn’s Disease Symptoms: Early Signs, Flares and When to Get Help](https://junocompanion.com/blog/symptom-tracking/crohns-disease-symptoms)