Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of diseases that involve chronic inflammation of all or part of the GI tract. The main diseases considered as IBD include Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease . Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis also are considered inflammatory bowel diseases but are often not grouped together with the classic inflammatory bowel diseases. The symptoms of these diseases usually include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. IBD symptoms can range in severity from mild disease to severe disease that can be life-threatening.
IBD is different from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which is a group of symptoms that do not result in underlying damage to the GI tract.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory process involving the intestinal tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus. The most commonly affected areas of the intestinal tract are the last part of the small intestine (ileum), large intestine (colon and rectum) and the anus.
Any age group may be affected, but the majority of patients are young adults between 16 and 40 years old. Crohn's disease occurs most commonly in people living in northern climates. It affects men and women equally and appears to be common in some families. About 20% of people with Crohn's disease have a relative, most often a brother or sister, and sometimes a parent or child, with some form of inflammatory bowel disease; however there is no clear pattern for how this disease is passed down to other relatives. The exact cause of this disease is not known; however, current theories consider an immunologic (the body's defense system) and/or bacteria-mediated cause.
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic inflammation of the superficial lining of the large bowel (colon). Ulcerative Colitis usually occurs in teenage years to young adulthood but can be diagnosed at any age. The cause remains unknown and no one can predict who will develop this condition. The severity of the disease can also vary with some people experiencing minimal to no symptoms and some people experiencing severe inflammation. Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic condition that cannot be cured, but the symptoms and risks of the disease can be managed with medication and or surgery. The most important risk of Ulcerative Colitis is the increased risk of developing colorectal cancer; therefore it is very important that people with Ulcerative Colitis are followed closely by a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon and that appropriate surveillance is performed. Studies show that people with inflammatory bowel disease, like Ulcerative Colitis, live full, productive lives and live just as long as people without these diseases.
Ulcerative Colitis can be associated with another disease that occurs outside of the GI tract including liver disease, skin disorders, eye disorders and kidney stones.