Yes, there are 5 different forms: Ileocolitis (the most common form and affects both the ileum and the colon), Ileitis (only affects the ileum), Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease (affects both the stomach and the duodenum), Jejunoileitis (affects jejunum- patchy inflammation) and Crohn’s (Granulomatous) Colitis (only affects the colon). Each form has slightly different symptoms and complications associated with it.

Patients who suffer from Crohn’s disease located in their ileum have a slightly higher risk of developing Small bowel cancer. It also appears that if you developed the disease at a young age or have had an active form of the disease for about 10 years you will have an increased risk of getting colorectal cancer. However, the majority of people with Crohn’s disease will never have cancer.

Smoking should be avoided because it will increase the frequency and severity of relapses.

NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) should also be avoided because they can worsen the symptoms and possibly even cause some people to relapse after remission. The most commonly used NSAIDs are ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen.

If the mother is in remission at the time of conception and throughout the pregnancy then there will be no extra risk of miscarriage or abnormalities in the baby. However, premature birth and miscarriage become more likely if the mother suffers from a relapse during the pregnancy.

They can be quite difficult to diagnose especially when the symptoms are mild as they are both inflammatory bowel diseases. All intestinal layers tend to be affected by inflammation in Crohn’s disease compared to just the outer layers of the colon in Ulcerative Colitis. Inflammation also tends to be patchier in Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the G.I. tract whereas Ulcerative Colitis can only affect the colon and rectum.