In case you haven't noticed, we’re living through somewhat of a gut health revolution. But there’s more to the gut than trendy probiotics and self-diagnosed milk allergies. 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe disorders causing chronic digestive tract inflammation, as explained by the Mayo Clinic. 

One common IBD impacting a sizeable percentage of Aussies is Crohn’s disease. 

From its causes and symptoms to available treatment options, GP Dr Kavita Krishnan shares the ins and outs of this potentially debilitating condition. 

What is Crohn's disease? 

“Crohn's disease is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects any area of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus,” explains Dr Krishnan. “It most commonly affects the small bowel and has a typical appearance on an endoscopy of patchy and transmural lesions.” 

For some people, living with Crohn’s is entirely manageable with diet and lifestyle tweaks, while others experience more intense symptoms that can often lead to life-threatening complications. The range of symptoms can be varied, from fever, muscle aches and nausea to debilitating abdominal pain, weight loss and bloody diarrhoea.

“Crohn's disease presents numerous issues such as chronic pain and unpredictable bowel movements,” Dr Krishnan confirms, adding that in addition to the string of physical symptoms, patients also find themselves dealing with the emotional and psychological impacts of living with Crohn's.

What causes Crohn’s disease?

With no singular behaviour, inherited trait or lifestyle factor being directly linked to Crohn’s onset, experts believe the disease’s origins are multifactorial, meaning an individual’s unique family history and environment influences their likelihood of developing the disease. 

Furthermore, according to the Mayo Clinic, no particular foods have been found to cause Crohn's disease, though certain things have been linked to aggravated symptom flare-ups. 

Is Crohn’s disease curable? 

Unfortunately, Crohn's disease is not curable, “But patients can have periods of remission where they are symptom-free,” says Dr Krishnan. 

Crohn’s management depends largely on each person’s severity of symptoms, with mild cases often able to control flare-ups with lifestyle and dietary changes. Doctors recommend patients keep a food diary to monitor and identify potential dietary triggers. 

Additionally, experts urge Crohn’s patients to avoid highly processed foods with high sugar content, limit dairy products, eat smaller portions at a time, avoid caffeine alcohol and carbonation, and focus on hydration.

More severe and chronic cases of Crohn’s disease may require more proactive treatment, such as medication and surgical intervention. 

How common is this disease in Australia? 

“In Australia, Inflammatory Bowel Disorder is becoming more prevalent, more complex, and more severe,” Dr Krishnan explains. 

“It affects approximately 1 in 250 people aged 5 to 40. Almost 75,000 Australians have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, with this number projected to increase,” she adds.

Based on the findings of studies conducted globally, men are typically associated with a lower risk of Crohn’s disease but have a greater risk of developing ulcerative colitis – another serious inflammatory bowel disease. 

Does anything increase the risk?

Other factors that have been found to increase someone’s risk of developing Crohn’s are their smoking status, their age and their socioeconomic background. So why are we seeing an increase in diagnoses? 

Crohn’s – as well as other inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis – is undoubtedly growing in prevalence worldwide, with the increase in industrialised-urbanised societies being attributed to the influence of Westernised lifestyles and modern environmental factors. 

While experts continue to investigate the impact of lifestyle factors such as contemporary hygiene habits, smoking, oral contraceptives, diet, appendectomies and modern abdominal procedures, breastfeeding, antibiotics and vaccinations, no consistent observations have been made to account for the rise of IBD.

For more information, Dr Krishnan recommends visiting this website for more in-depth information about how Crohn’s is diagnosed and managed.