Diarrhea and belly pain are often the first signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There may be times when a person does not have problems and other times when a person has flare ups.
An inflamed digestive tract may cause:
- Diarrhea, often with blood or mucus in stool (poop)
- Rectal bleeding
- Belly cramps and pain
- Nausea
- Mouth sores
- Sores around the anus (with Crohn disease)
Diarrhea and rectal bleeding may lead to:
- Anemia—a lack of healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body
- Weight loss
- Weakness and lack of energy
Inflammation in the body may cause:
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Skin rashes
- Eye pain or swelling
- Kidney stones
References
Crohn disease in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/crohn-disease-in-adults. Accessed April 25, 2022.
Ulcerative colitis in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/ulcerative-colitis-in-adults. Accessed April 25, 2022.
What is Crohn's disease? Crohn's & Colitis Foundation website. Available at: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-crohns-disease. Accessed April 25, 2022.
What is Ulcerative Colitis? Crohn's & Colitis Foundation website. Available at: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-ulcerative-colitis. Accessed April 25, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review BoardDaniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 04/25/2022