Crohn’s Disease
Comprehensive care with compassion and expertise
Medically reviewed by: A.Prof Viraj Kariyawasam
Last reviewed: August 2026
Living with ongoing bowel symptoms can affect your energy, confidence and everyday routine. Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition, but the right care can help settle inflammation and give you more control over your health.
At Complete Health Australia, our specialists take time to understand how the condition is affecting you. We’ll guide you through assessment and treatment with clear explanations and ongoing support.
What is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It develops when parts of the digestive system become inflamed.
It can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus, though it’s often found in the final part of the small bowel or the large bowel. Unlike some other bowel conditions, the inflammation may reach through several layers of the bowel wall.
Crohn’s disease can begin at any age, although it’s often diagnosed in teenagers and younger adults. Symptoms may become more noticeable during a flare, then improve during periods known as remission.
Crohn’s disease symptoms
The condition doesn’t feel the same for everyone. Your experience will depend partly on where the inflammation is located and how active it is.
Possible signs include:
- Frequent or ongoing diarrhoea
- Cramping or pain in your abdomen
- Blood or mucus in your bowel movements
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest
- Fever during an active flare
- Mouth ulcers
- Pain, swelling or discharge around the anus
Inflammation can sometimes affect areas outside the digestive system. This may lead to sore joints, skin changes or irritated eyes.
Speak with a doctor if bowel symptoms continue, keep returning or begin interfering with daily life.
Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration.
What causes Crohn’s disease?
There isn’t one confirmed cause. Research suggests Crohn’s disease develops through a complex interaction between the immune system, inherited risk and environmental factors.
In someone with Crohn’s disease, the immune system responds in a way that leads to persistent inflammation in the digestive tract. Having a close relative with IBD can increase your likelihood of developing it, but many people diagnosed with Crohn’s have no family history.
Smoking doesn’t directly cause the condition, although it can make Crohn’s more difficult to manage and raise the risk of complications. Some medicines, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may worsen symptoms in certain people.
Stress or particular foods can aggravate how you feel during a flare, but they aren’t considered the underlying cause.
Diagnosing Crohn’s disease
Several conditions can cause similar digestive symptoms, so diagnosis usually involves more than one investigation. Your gastroenterology specialist will ask about your health, family history and the pattern of your symptoms before recommending suitable tests.
Blood tests can look for inflammation, anaemia and low levels of important nutrients. A stool sample may help rule out infection and measure calprotectin, a marker that can indicate inflammation in the bowel.
A colonoscopy allows your specialist to examine the inside of the large bowel and the end of the small bowel using a slim flexible camera. Small tissue samples, known as biopsies, can be collected and examined under a microscope.
An MRI, CT scan or intestinal ultrasound may also be arranged. These tests can show areas that can’t be reached during a colonoscopy and help identify narrowing, abscesses or abnormal tunnels called fistulas.
Your doctor will explain each investigation and what the findings mean for your care.
Crohn’s disease treatment
There’s no single treatment plan that suits everyone. Recommendations will depend on the location of inflammation, the impact of your symptoms and any complications you’ve developed.
Medicines aim to bring the active disease under control and keep it settled. Corticosteroids may be prescribed for a limited period during a flare. Other options include immune-modifying medicines, biologic therapies or targeted treatments that act on specific parts of the inflammatory process.
Nutritional therapy may be helpful in selected cases. A dietitian can also support you if poor appetite, restricted eating or reduced nutrient absorption has affected your health. You shouldn’t need to remove foods without professional guidance.
Surgery may be considered if medication isn’t controlling the condition or a complication develops. An operation can remove or repair an affected area, but Crohn’s disease can return elsewhere in the digestive tract.
Regular reviews remain important even when you’re feeling well. Monitoring can help your care team recognise changes early and adjust treatment before symptoms become harder to manage.
Find personalised care with Complete Health Australia
Crohn’s disease can change over time, so you need care that responds to you rather than following a fixed pathway.
Our specialists will listen to what you’ve been experiencing, organise appropriate investigations and talk you through the available options. Together, you can build a plan that supports your digestive health and fits more comfortably into your life.
Meet our specialists
Our gastroenterology specialists provide thoughtful, evidence-based care for people with suspected or diagnosed Crohn’s disease. They can help clarify unexplained symptoms, review an existing treatment plan or support you through a change in your condition.
You’ll have space to discuss your concerns and understand each recommendation, with care shaped around your medical needs and personal priorities.
Sources
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/crohns-disease
- https://crohnsandcolitis.org.au/about-crohns-colitis/crohns-disease/about-crohns-disease/
- https://crohnsandcolitis.org.au/about-crohns-colitis/crohns-disease/crohns-disease-diagnosis/
- https://crohnsandcolitis.org.au/about-crohns-colitis/crohns-disease/crohns-disease-treatment/
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