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Last reviewed: September 2023
This information is about flare-ups in people aged 16 and over.
This information will explain what a flare-up is and the signs to look out for. It will help you understand what to do:
If your child is aged under 16 and you think they are having a flare-up, contact their GP or IBD team. Our supporting your child resource has information on signs of a flare-up in children.
We need your help to improve our information to better support people with Crohn’s and Colitis. Fill in our short survey to let us know what we're doing well and how we can better meet your needs.
A flare-up is when symptoms come back and you feel unwell. Everyone experiences flare-ups differently. Your symptoms may also change over time. Flare-ups can last anywhere from a few days to several months and you may have different symptoms during a flare-up than you had when you were first diagnosed.
Read our information on managing symptoms to find out more.
If you have a written personalised care and support plan or your IBD team have agreed with you previously what to do if your symptoms get worse, follow the specific guidance given by your doctor or nurse.
If you do not have a personalised plan contact your local IBD team or GP via phone or email. If you are unable to contact your GP or IBD team, call NHS 111 or contact your local out-of-hours service.
Please be aware that our Helpline is not able to give individual advice on this.
You will know your body and condition better than anyone. If you feel you need urgent care phone 111. If you need emergency care call 999. It's important to go to hospital if you're advised to.
Go to A&E or call 999 if you:
All medicines have a small risk of side effects, such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat or hives. If you experience any side effects that you are worried about while taking your medicine, contact your IBD team or your GP as soon as possible.
If you have Ulcerative Colitis and are experiencing a flare-up, you may be able to temporarily increase the amount of 5-ASA medicine you take.
If you decide to do this, it's important to inform your IBD team or GP of any changes as soon as possible by telephone or email. You may also want to check with your healthcare professional first if you are pregnant or have another health condition.
If you are taking 5-ASAs, you can take up to the amount below for 8 weeks, unless you have already been told by your healthcare professional not to increase your dose.
This advice only applies to 5-ASAs, not any other medicine you may be taking.
You may see your dose in g or mg: 1g = 1000mg, 0.8g = 800mg, 0.5g = 500mg.
Check the Patient Information Leaflet inside your medicine box or online at medicines.org.uk/emc to find out what dosage is in your medicine.
Even if your symptoms settle quickly, continue taking your increased dose for 8 weeks then reduce back to your regular dose, unless advised otherwise by your IBD team or GP.
If you are prescribed suppositories or enemas and you have a supply of these at home, you can start taking these too. You can take these every night as well as increasing your 5-ASA tablets.
If your symptoms do not improve, contact your IBD team or GP. Our appointment guide has useful tips and tools to help you describe your symptoms and talk about how you are feeling.
This advice does NOT apply if you have Crohn's. If you have Crohn’s and are having a flare-up, see the previous section: I'm having a flare-up - what should I do?
Taking your medicines as prescribed by your IBD team, even when you feel well, reduces the risk of flare-ups. We don’t yet know what causes flare-ups, but possible triggers include:
It can help to keep a diary of symptoms to see if you become aware of any triggers for you. You can find one in My Appointments Journal.
We want people with Crohn’s and Colitis to feel empowered to manage their condition. Our resources and videos give information on how to manage symptoms, stay as well as possible and where to find emotional and peer support.
Our top tips for keeping as well as possible are:
If you are unable to get in contact with your IBD team, your GP may be able to help. There are a number of resources that you may want to show your GP. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and Crohn’s & Colitis UK have created an IBD toolkit, a guide to IBD and managing flares for GPs. We also have podcasts and webinars available in our resources for healthcare professionals.
We follow strict processes to make sure our information is based on up-to-date evidence and easy to understand.
Please email us at evidence@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk if:
You can also write to us at Crohn’s & Colitis UK, 1 Bishop Square, Hatfield, AL10 9NE, or contact us through our Helpline: 0300 222 5700
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We know it can be difficult to live with, or support someone living with these conditions. But you’re not alone. We provide up-to-date, evidence-based information and can support you to live well with Crohn’s or Colitis.
Our helpline team can help by:
Providing information about Crohn’s and Colitis.
Listening and talking through your situation.
Helping you to find support from others in the Crohn’s and Colitis community.
Providing details of other specialist organisations.
Please be aware we’re not medically or legally trained. We cannot provide detailed financial or benefits advice or specialist emotional support.
Please contact us via telephone, email or LiveChat - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except English bank holidays).
If you need specific medical advice about your condition, your GP or IBD team will be best placed to help.
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