Crohn's disease
The symptoms of Crohn's disease vary, depending on which part of the digestive systemis inflamed.
Common symptoms include:
You may experience all or only one of the above. Some people experience severe symptoms, butothers onlyhave mild problems.
There may be long periods, lasting for weeks or months, where you have very mild or no symptoms (known as remission), followed by periods where the symptoms are particularly troublesome (known as flare-ups or relapses).
Less common symptoms include:
Children with Crohn's disease may grow at a slower rate than expected, because the inflammation can prevent the body absorbing nutrients from food.
You should contact your GP if you have:
You should also see your GP if you're concerned about your child's development.
Crohn's disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.
The symptoms of Crohn's disease vary, depending on which part of the digestive system is inflamed.
The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Most researchers think it's caused by a combination of factors.
A number of different tests may be needed to diagnose Crohn's disease, as it has similar symptoms to several other conditions.
There's currently no cure for Crohn's disease, but treatment can improve the symptoms.
People with Crohn's disease are at risk of developing a number of complications.
Author William Fiennes has lived with Crohn's disease since he was a teenager.
Joseph Barr talks about managing Crohn's disease with medication and how he can still play the sports he loves.