Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. It can cause long-term inflammation anywhere from the mouth to the anus, though it often affects the small intestine and colon.
Common symptoms
Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever, mouth sores, or blood in stool. Symptoms may flare and then improve for periods of time.
How it differs from IBS
Crohn's disease involves inflammation that can damage tissue. IBS can cause real symptoms, but it does not cause the same inflammatory injury in the bowel.
Crohn's disease needs medical diagnosis and follow-up because untreated inflammation can lead to complications.