IBDs consist of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) which are chronic diseases characterized by repetitive episodes of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.1
IBDs can affect men and women of all ages but are most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40.1
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are differentiated by their location and depth of involvement in the bowel wall1. Both diseases are progressive, hence the importance of early diagnosis and management2, and could be managed by one or a combination of Medications and surgery.1
It is worth noting that Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is known as spastic colon or nervous stomach and, unlike IBDs, it doesn’t inflame or damage the intestines.1
IBDs Can Predispose for Colorectal Cancer
IBDs, if be left unmanaged, can lead to serious problems such as a higher risk of colon cancer principally resulting from the effects of chronic intestinal inflammation.1,3
Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs)
The IBD symptoms vary from person-to-person and may depend on what part of the bowel is affected by the inflammation.1,4,5
Main symptoms could include
Diarrhea
May be associated with blood or mucus and may also occur at night with severe urgency
Fever
During flare-ups
Tenesmus
Is a feeling of incomplete evacuation after bowel movement and is often associated with abdominal pain
Unexplained weight loss
Learn more from Trevor's journey with UC
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References
- Cleveland Clinic. (2023, January 18). Overview of inflammatory bowel disease. [Published on the Cleveland Clinic website]. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15587-inflammatory-bowel-disease-overview
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2022, February 21). Inflammatory bowel disease: Overview. [Published in the PubMed Central database]. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7344991/
- Medscape. (2023, January 18). Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. [Published on the Medscape website]. Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/179037-treatment
- Nguyen, H. T. (2023). The role of gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease. W: L. Chang (Red.), Inflammatory bowel disease: A guide for patients and caregivers (ss. 101-112). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2022, February 21). Inflammatory bowel disease: Overview. [Published in the PubMed Central database]. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7344991/
- Medscape. (2023, January 18). Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. [Published on the Medscape website]. Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/179037-treatment
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD