What is a flare?

If you have IBD, you might hear people talk about “having a flare.”

But what does that actually mean?

A flare is a time when the inflammation caused by your IBD becomes more active.

When your IBD is well controlled, you might feel pretty normal and be able to get on with your everyday life.

During a flare, your IBD symptoms can come back or become stronger.

🔥 What can a flare feel like?

Everyone's IBD is different, so your symptoms might not be the same as someone else's.

During a flare, you might notice:

🚽 Changes when you go to the toilet

You might:

• Have diarrhoea

• Need to poo more often

• Suddenly need to find a toilet

• Have blood or mucus in your poo

• Feel like you still need to go after you've been

You might also have more accidents than usual.

🤕 Tummy pain

You might have tummy aches, cramps or pain.

The pain might come and go, or it might stick around for longer.

If your tummy pain is severe or getting worse, tell an adult and contact your healthcare team.

😴 Feeling really tired

A flare can leave you feeling completely exhausted.

You might find school harder, struggle to concentrate or feel like you need to sleep more than usual.

This isn't because you're being lazy.

Your body is dealing with inflammation, and that can take a lot of energy.

🍽️ Changes in your appetite

You might not feel as hungry as usual.

You might not feel like eating your normal meals or find that eating makes you feel uncomfortable.

If you're struggling to eat or drink enough, tell your parent, carer or healthcare team.

⚖️ Changes in your weight

If you're having a flare, you might lose weight without trying.

For children and teenagers, your healthcare team will also keep an eye on your growth and development.

That's one of the reasons regular appointments are important.

🤒 Feeling generally unwell

Sometimes you might feel like you've got no energy, feel feverish or just know that something isn't right.

You might also notice symptoms outside your gut, such as sore joints, mouth ulcers or skin or eye problems.

Tell your healthcare team about new or unusual symptoms.

🧐 How do I know if I'm having a flare?

You might notice that you're having more symptoms than usual or that your normal symptoms have changed.

That's why it helps to know what is normal for you.

For example, if you normally go to the toilet twice a day but suddenly you're going six times a day, that's something worth telling someone about.

But having one bad tummy day doesn't necessarily mean you're having a flare.

Things like infections can cause symptoms that look similar to an IBD flare.

Your healthcare team can help work out what's happening.

💭 What causes a flare?

Sometimes you might know why your symptoms have changed.

Other times, there may not be an obvious reason.

It's important not to blame yourself.

A flare doesn't mean:

❌ You ate the wrong thing

❌ You didn't exercise enough

❌ You were stressed

❌ You did something wrong

❌ You didn't try hard enough

IBD is complicated, and flares can happen even when you're doing everything you're supposed to do.

🩺 What should I do if I think I'm having a flare?

Tell someone.

Start with your parent, carer or another adult you trust.

They can help you contact your IBD team if needed.

Your healthcare team might ask you questions about your symptoms and may want you to have blood or poo tests to check what's happening.

You might have a plan from your IBD team that tells you what to do when your symptoms change.

If you have one, follow your individual plan.

💊 Keep taking your medicines

If you take regular IBD medicine, keep taking it as prescribed unless your healthcare team tells you otherwise.

Don't stop or change your medicine on your own.

If you're having trouble taking your medicine or you're worried about side effects, tell your parent, carer or IBD team.

💧 Look after yourself

When you're having symptoms, try to give your body what it needs.

This might mean:

• Drinking regularly

• Eating what you can tolerate

• Getting plenty of rest

• Taking breaks

• Asking for help

• Following the advice from your healthcare team

You don't have to push through everything.

🏫 What about school?

A flare can make school harder.

You might need:

• Easier access to the toilet

• Time away from class

• Extra rest breaks

• Help catching up on work

• Extra time for assignments or tests

• Changes to PE or sport

Your school can help put support in place.

You don't have to explain your symptoms to everyone.

You can have a trusted teacher or staff member who knows what's going on and can help you when you need it.

💛 What about friends?

You decide what you want your friends to know.

You don't have to explain every detail of your IBD.

You could simply say:

“I'm having a bit of a flare at the moment, so I might need to take it easy.”

Or:

“My IBD is playing up, but I'll be okay.”

The people who care about you will understand that sometimes you might need extra support.

🚩 When should I get help quickly?

Tell an adult straight away if you feel seriously unwell.

You may need urgent medical help if you have things like:

• Severe or worsening tummy pain

• A lot of blood in your poo

• Repeated vomiting

• Signs of dehydration

• Fainting or feeling like you might faint

• A high fever or feeling very unwell

If you're not sure whether something is serious, tell an adult rather than trying to deal with it by yourself.

😊 What happens after a flare?

The goal of treatment is to get your IBD back under control.

When the inflammation settles down, your symptoms should improve.

This is called remission.

You might start feeling more like yourself again.

Your energy can come back.

School can feel easier.

You can get back to your sport, hobbies and hanging out with friends.

Sometimes it takes a little while, though.

You don't have to rush your recovery.

🌱 You can learn your own warning signs

As you get to know your IBD, you'll start to learn what changes might mean that something isn't quite right.

You might notice:

“I'm going to the toilet more.”

“I'm much more tired.”

“My tummy hurts again.”

“I don't feel like eating.”

Learning your own warning signs can help you speak up early.

You don't have to become an expert overnight.

You'll learn as you go.

💛 Remember

Having a flare can be frustrating, uncomfortable and sometimes scary.

But a flare doesn't mean you've failed.

It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.

And it doesn't mean you'll feel this way forever.

Tell someone when your symptoms change, follow the plan from your healthcare team and give your body time to recover.

Your IBD is something you manage — it isn't who you are.

You are still you.

And when the flare settles, you'll get back to doing the things you love.

One day at a time. 💛