If you’re having ongoing digestive issues like stomach ache, changes in bowel patterns, blood or mucus in your stools, fatigue, and weight loss, it’s important to see your doctor. While they can be symptoms of many different GI conditions, they can also direct towards Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis—together called inflammatory bowel disease.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis share some similarities but they are not the same conditions. Let’s understand the similarities and differences between Crohn’s disease vs ulcerative colitis.
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a chronic (long-term) inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in any part of the GI tract, from mouth to anus. It most commonly affects the end of the small intestines and start of large intestines.
In Crohn’s disease inflammation can involve all layers of the bowel wall. It can be a painful condition and cause serious complications.
Learn more in detail about Crohn’s disease.
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is also a chronic (long-term) inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. The inflammation stays in the inner lining of the bowel wall and causes formation of ulcers.
Learn more in detail about Ulcerative Colitis.
Common Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis share some common symptoms, like:
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Diarrhoea (with or without blood and mucus)
- Constipation
- Frequent and urgent need to poo
- Feeling as if you haven’t emptied your bowel completely
- Rectal bleeding
- Anemia
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
Similarities Between Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
- People they affect:
Although they can affect anyone at any age, both diseases usually affect teenagers and young adults.
- Chronic inflammation of gut:
Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis cause chronic inflammation in the GI tract.
- Causes:
The causes of both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are not fully known.
- Contributing factors:
Both diseases have similar contributing factors like environmental, overactive immune response, and genetics.
- Cure:
There’s no permanent cure for any of these conditions, but there are treatments that can help reduce inflammation, control symptoms, and prevent flare-ups.
Key Differences Between Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
- Location:
Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon and rectum, whereas Crohn’s disease can develop anywhere in the GI tract, from mouth to anus.
- Pattern of inflammation:
In Crohn’s disease there are healthy parts of the intestines between the inflamed areas—patchy areas of inflammation, while ulcerative colitis causes continuous inflammation of the colon.
- Layers of bowel affected:
Crohn’s disease can affect all the layers of the bowel walls. On the other hand, ulcerative colitis only affects the inner most lining of the colon.
- Complications:
Crohn’s disease can cause complications like strictures (narrowing of the bowel), fistulas, and malnutrition, while ulcerative colitis can lead to complications like severe bleeding, risk of toxic megacolon (dangerous widening of the colon), and slightly higher risk of colon cancer over time.
Crohn’s Disease vs Ulcerative Colitis | Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Crohn’s Disease | Ulcerative Colitis |
| Location | Can affect any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus | Limited to large intestine (colon) and rectum |
| Pattern of inflammation | Patchy “skip lesions” — healthy areas in between inflamed spots | Continuous inflammation along the colon |
| Depth of inflammation | Extends through different layers of the intestine | Stays in the inner most lining of the colon |
| Common symptoms | Abdominal pain (can occur anywhere), diarrhoea, weight loss, mouth ulcers, anal pain or fissures | Bloody diarrhoea, urgency to pass stool, abdominal pain (usually left-sided) |
| Complications | Strictures (narrowing of the bowel), fistulas, abscesses, malnutrition | Severe bleeding, toxic mega colon, increase long-term colon cancer risk |
| Surgery outcome | Surgery helps with symptoms but disease can recur elsewhere | Surgery can be curative, if the colon and rectum are removed |
Can You Have Both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis?
No, you cannot have both conditions at the same time. The confusion comes from the fact that a person can be diagnosed with ulcerative colitis first, and then later in life their diagnosis is changed to Crohn’s disease, or vice versa.
There’s also a type of Crohn’s disease called Crohn’s colitis, which only affects the colon.
However, a change in diagnosis or having Crohn’s colitis are not the same as having both conditions.
Living with IBD
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis both are chronic conditions that cause digestive problems and can feel frustrating and overwhelming. But with the right treatment plan and support, many people live a full and active life.
There are support groups like Crohn’s & Colitis UK that can help you find support for IBD in the UK, and European Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) that provides help and support in the EU for people suffering from IBD.
Final Thoughts
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis both cause chronic inflammation of the gut, but they’re different in many ways like the areas they affect, how deep the inflammation goes, and the complications they can cause.
If you’re having ongoing digestive issues, don’t ignore them. Consult with your doctor, as early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications.
