5) Clinical picture
› Diarrhea
Diarrhea occurs in both diseases, but in ulcerative colitis, it is severe and usually with dysentery (mucus and blood in the stool). In Crohn’s disease, diarrhea is porridge-like and may occur with steatorrhea (excess fat in the stool).
› Tenesmus
It is more common in ulcerative colitis than Crohn’s disease.
› Abdominal pain
In Crohn’s disease, there is more prominent pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.
In Ulcerative colitis, there is less prominent pain in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen.
› Bleeding per rectum
It occurs with ulcerative colitis, but it is uncommon with Crohn’s disease.
› Fever
Fever is common with Crohn’s disease, but it indicates a severe condition in ulcerative colitis.
› Weight loss
It often accompanies Crohn’s disease, but it is rare with ulcerative colitis.
› Anal and oral lesions occur with Crohn’s disease, but they are rare with ulcerative colitis.
› Intestinal fistula commonly occurs with Crohn’s disease, but it is rare with ulcerative colitis.
› Intestinal obstruction may happen only with Crohn’s disease; it doesn’t occur with ulcerative colitis.
› Malabsorption syndrome may happen with Crohn’s disease; it doesn’t occur with ulcerative colitis.
› Nutrient deficiency
In ulcerative colitis, there is no nutrient deficiency. But, in Crohn’s disease, there is a high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, which causes megaloblastic anemia, neurological manifestations, and gastrointestinal manifestations.
Crohn’s disease causes vitamin B12 deficiency because it affects the terminal ileum, which is the site of vitamin B12 absorption.
› Primary sclerosing cholangitis is frequent in ulcerative colitis and infrequent in Crohn’s disease.
