Crohn's / ulcerative colitis symptoms

Overview

Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases. Symptoms overlap with IBS but include inflammation, bleeding, and weight loss.

Symptoms to watch for

• Chronic diarrhea
• Blood in stool (UC more than Crohn's)
• Abdominal pain (Crohn's often right-lower)
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fevers
• Joint pain, skin rashes, eye inflammation (extraintestinal)

How it's diagnosed

Fecal calprotectin, colonoscopy with biopsies, cross-sectional imaging for Crohn's.

Treatment

Aminosalicylates (mesalamine), immunomodulators, biologics (infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, ustekinumab), small molecules (ozanimod, upadacitinib).