Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue. Crohn’s disease can lead to serious complications if left untreated, so early diagnosis is best. Understanding your likelihood of having Crohn’s disease, which this quiz reveals, can help you decide if going to the doctor for a diagnosis is a good step for you.
Only a medical doctor, such as a gastroenterologist, a digestive disorder specialist, can diagnose Crohn’s disease. This quiz can help you determine whether it’s a good idea to see a doctor about a diagnosis. The quiz asks about symptoms and risk factors you may have of Crohn’s disease and how likely you might be to have the disease.
This quiz is for people who think they may have symptoms of Crohn’s disease. It may be useful for anyone who:
- Needs help deciding whether to talk to a healthcare provider about Crohn’s
- Has already seen a doctor but has more questions or feels that their concerns were dismissed
- Wants to know if they should see a specialist or get a second opinion
This quiz was developed in partnership with Jay N. Yepuri, MD, a gastroenterologist and member of Health‘s Medical Expert Board.
The questions are based on the common symptoms of Crohn’s disease. It also asks about risk factors and complications associated with Crohn’s disease. Based on your answers, the quiz reveals whether you have a low, medium, or high likelihood of having Crohn’s disease.
People with Crohn’s may experience periods of increased symptoms (flare-ups) and periods of remission when they have no symptoms.
Common symptoms related to inflammation in your digestive tract include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
- Urgent need to poop
- Tenesmus (feeling of incomplete bowel movements)
- Constipation
Crohn’s can also cause complications such as:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Eye redness or pain
- Swollen, painful joints
- Skin complications, such as bumps, sores, or rashes
- Anal fissures (tears)
- Vision changes
- Mouth sores
Crohn’s and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are both gastrointestinal disorders. While they share similarities, they are distinct conditions.
Unlike Crohn’s, IBS does not cause inflammation or visible damage to the digestive tract. Instead, IBS is caused by an issue with bowel function, possibly due to problems with communication between the brain and the gut.
Crohn’s and IBS can cause many of the same symptoms, including abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, and constipation. However, unintentional weight loss and bloody stool—two potential Crohn’s disease symptoms—are not IBS symptoms.
A doctor may use a variety of tests to diagnose Crohn’s and rule out other conditions:
- Physical exam: Checks for pain or bloating in the abdomen and assesses your symptoms and medical history
- Endoscopy: A small camera at the end of a lighted tube is used to examine your digestive tract; examples include colonoscopy, when providers examine your colon by inserting an endoscope through the anus, and upper endoscopy, when providers insert an ensdcope down your esophagus to examine your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract
- Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed from the digestive tract for analysis
- Blood test: Checks for indicators of inflammation or anemia
- Stool test: Checks for signs of infection and inflammation in your stool (poop)
- Other imaging tests: May include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the GI tract
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. Researchers have theorized that it could be caused by an overactive immune system, a problem with immune cell functioning, or imbalances in the gut microbiome.
Risk Factors for Crohn’s Disease
These factors may increase your risk of Crohn’s disease:
- Genetics: About 5-20% of people with IBD have a close relative who also has some type of IBD.
- Age: Onset most commonly occurs before the age of 30.
- Ethnic background: White people are more likely to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease than Black or Hispanic people in the United States. More research is needed to understand the relationship between ethnicity and Crohn’s.
Environmental factors that may increase your risk include:
- Smoking
- Diets high in fat, sugar, carbonated drinks, or fiber
- Antibiotic use
- Birth control pill use
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use
- Urban living
- Air pollution
- Appendectomy (removal of the appendix)
You should consider seeing a doctor if you have any symptoms of Crohn’s disease. This is especially true if you are seeing blood in your stool, in the toilet bowl, or on your toilet paper. A primary care physician can recommend a gastroenterologist if you don’t have one. If you are concerned about your risk factors for developing Crohn’s disease, consider talking to a doctor.
