It's time to act on IBDs

The following factors could contribute to IBDs^4,7

A family history of IBDs increase an individual’s risk of developing IBD

Immune reactions to viruses or bacteria could cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract

Smoking has been shown to be strongly linked to Crohn’s disease (CD)

Diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBDs) requires a combination of clinical, laboratory and imaging findings.⁴

Blood tests

Stool tests

Colonoscopy (Endoscopic examination of the large bowel with a camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus
X-ray
Ultrasound
MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging
Double Contract Barium Enema: x-rays of the colon and rectum are taken with a liquid containing barium which is put into the rectum to make the structures easier to see

An IBD specialist would recommend one or a combination of the following management options, depending on the disease severity and patient condition.⁶

can help control inflammation and symptoms

could be curative with Ulcerative colitis and is common to manage Crohn's complications

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