Crohn’s Disease causes inflammation of the full thickness of the bowel wall and may involve any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Various sized patches of inflammation can occur with normal tissue surrounding either side of the patches. It is more frequently located in the ileum, which is sometimes referred to as ileo-Crohn’s. If the disease is located in both the ileum and the large bowel, it is known as Crohn’s colitis.

Symptoms vary according to the location, severity of inflammation, and how the bowel is affected. Symptoms include diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue and weight loss.

In some patients the disease may occur around the anus or rectum. This condition is referred to as Perianal Crohn’s Disease, which can lead to the development of abnormal channels from holes that occur in the tissue of the bowel wall. The channels are called fistulas. These channels can adhere to surrounding organs such as the bladder or vagina and can even burrow to the surface of the outer skin. These channels are quite painful and can lead to serious infection.