First AIDFIRST AI DOCTORYour care companion
Health library/Crohn's Disease

Digestive health

Crohn's Disease

Also known as: Regional enteritis, Regional ileitis

Crohn's disease causes chronic inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract. Flares and complications may affect nutrition as well as bowel function.

Save to my health notebook +

Save after unlocking your private notebook. An article bookmark does not add a diagnosis.

What you may notice

Symptoms can overlap with other conditions and vary between people.

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue

Understanding care

Clinical care may include specialist assessment, inflammation monitoring and an individualized long-term plan. A qualified clinician decides which investigations and options fit the individual situation.

When to seek help

Seek review for persistent bowel changes, pain or weight loss. Severe abdominal pain, bloody or black stools, vomiting blood or marked dehydration needs urgent assessment.

For severe breathing difficulty, collapse, suspected stroke, or another emergency, call local emergency services immediately. In India, call 112.

Read the medical sources

These sources support the educational article and offer more detail.

Educational reading · Updated 6 October 2026

Prepared from the linked sources. This summary has not had an independent clinician review. A qualified clinician can assess symptoms and explain which information applies to you.

A child and a caring grown-up reading a picture book together

LITTLE PEOPLE. BIG FEELINGS.

It’s okay to have
a lot of questions.

A doctor visit or an unfamiliar health word can feel scary. You can ask a trusted grown-up to help you understand, one small question at a time.

01

Say how you feel.

“I feel worried” is a good place to start.

02

Ask for simple words.

“Can you explain that in a way I understand?”

03

Bring someone you trust.

A caring adult can help you ask and listen.

For children and their grown-ups. This illustration explains a conversation, not a diagnosis. An adult should seek qualified care for a child who is unwell.

Crohn's Disease — First AID health library