Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune condition that causes symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause similar symptoms as well as constipation.
Many gastrointestinal (GI) conditions like IBS and Crohn’s disease cause overlapping symptoms, which can make diagnosing them difficult.
Crohn’s disease and another condition called ulcerative colitis are collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) since they’re characterized by chronic inflammation in your GI tract.
Despite sounding similar, IBS is an unrelated condition that can cause many symptoms like:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- constipation
Doctors don’t know the cause of IBS, but they think that several factors — like food sensitivities and microbiome disruptions — may contribute to its development.
Keep reading to learn more about the similarities and differences between IBS and Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s disease and IBS can cause many overlapping symptoms.
IBS symptoms
IBS symptoms tend to flare up on certain days and improve on others. For many people, certain foods trigger their symptoms.
The most common symptoms of IBS are:
Other symptoms include:
- gas
- anal mucus
- fatigue
- nausea
- backache
- frequent need to pee
- bowel incontinence
Doctors often classify IBS as:
Crohn’s disease symptoms
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease may occur consistently or come and go every few weeks to months.
The most common symptoms include:
- diarrhea
- abdominal cramping
- unintentional weight loss
- fatigue, which can be extreme
Other symptoms can include:
- fever
- nausea
- joint pain or soreness
- eye redness or pain
- skin changes, such as inflamed, tender bumps
- mouth sores
- anemia
- loss of appetite
Doctors have linked Crohn’s disease to genes passed through families. They believe that many factors contribute to the development of IBS.
IBS causes
Doctors don’t know the underlying cause of IBS.
- stressful early life events, such as physical abuse
- depression, anxiety, and somatic symptom disorder
- infections
- small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- food intolerance or sensitivities
- certain genes
- altered gut microbiome
Crohn’s disease causes
Again, doctors don’t know the exact cause of Crohn’s disease. Researchers think that it may be linked to certain genes since it seems more common in people with a family history of it.
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease develop due to an autoimmune reaction where your body attacks healthy cells in your GI tract.
These are some of the risk factors for Crohn’s disease and IBS.
IBS risk factors
- female sex
- younger age
- GI infections
- anxiety or depression
Crohn’s disease risk factors
People with a family history of Crohn’s disease tend to develop the condition more often than people without a family history of it.
- smoking
- air pollution
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use
- infections
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two inflammatory conditions that doctors collectively categorize as IBD. The main difference between these two conditions is the pattern of inflammation.
Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation anywhere in your GI tract between your anus and mouth. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in your large intestines or rectum.
It’s a good idea to contact a doctor if you have GI symptoms causing you significant distress. It’s also a good idea to contact a doctor if you have persistent diarrhea that:
- is particularly severe or frequent
- lasts for more than 7 days
- has blood in it
Initial tests for GI conditions often include:
- a review of your personal and family medical history
- a physical exam to look for:
- bloating
- abdominal tenderness
- pain in your liver or spleen
- lab tests, such as blood tests or stool tests
Doctors primarily diagnose IBS by ruling out other conditions. They may recommend eliminating certain foods to see if this reduces your symptoms.
Additional tests that your doctor may order to help diagnose IBS include:
- intestinal endoscopy
- X-rays of the upper GI tract (GI series)
- CT scan
Although Crohn’s disease and IBS can cause similar symptoms, they have different treatments.
IBS treatment
The main treatments for IBS include:
- eating more fiber
- avoiding triggering foods
- increasing your physical activity
- drinking plenty of fluids
- reducing stress
- getting adequate sleep
- taking certain medications, such as:
- antidiarrheal drugs
- laxatives
- anticholinergic medications to reduce spasms
- tricyclic antidepressants to reduce pain
Crohn’s disease treatment
The main treatments for Crohn’s disease include:
- bowel rest
- medications
- surgery
Surgery involves removing part of your bowel to relieve your symptoms or keep them from coming back.
No medications can cure Crohn’s disease, but some may reduce symptoms.
Some commonly prescribed medications include:
- steroids, such as prednisolone
- immunosuppressants, such as:
- azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan)
- mercaptopurine (Purinethol, others)
- methotrexate (Jylamvo, Maxtrex, others)
- biological medications, such as:
- adalimumab (Humira, others)
- infliximab (REMICADE)
- vedolizumab (Entyvio)
Crohn’s disease isn’t preventable, but following your doctor’s instructions can help you manage your condition.
IBS may be somewhat preventable with certain lifestyle modifications, such as:
- cooking homemade meals using fresh ingredients as much as possible
- keeping a diary of your symptoms and the foods you eat
- reducing stress in your life
- exercising regularly
- trying probiotics for a month to see if it helps
- keeping your tea and coffee intake to under 3 cups per day
- reducing your intake of triggering foods
IBS and Crohn’s disease are two conditions that cause symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Crohn’s disease develops when your immune system attacks healthy cells in your GI tract. IBS is associated with many factors, like food intolerances and a disruption in your gut microbiome.
It’s a good idea to contact a doctor if you have persistent GI discomfort interfering with your daily life. They can help you identify the underlying cause and recommend treatment options.