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IBD stands for inflammatory bowel disease, the collective term for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In IBD, there is a chronic inflammation of the walls along the GI tract, which can lead to permanent damage.
IBD is not IBS. IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome, which is a term used to describe collective symptoms. IBD is caused by inflammation and results in tissue damage, whereas IBS is not. IBD also increases the chance of colorectal cancer, whereas IBS does not.
IBD is most common in Western countries. The age of the initial presentation is either 20-40 or 60-80.
IBD includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis only affects the rectum and colon. The inflammation and damage are continuous, and not patchy. They usually begin at the rectum and gradually spread further into the colon. The inflammation usually only affects the innermost lining of the colon. Ulcerative colitis can be further classified into proctitis, distal colitis, and pancolitis, depending on the spread of the inflammation along the colon.
Crohn’s disease affects the whole GI tract and can appear anywhere from the mouth to the anus, although it most commonly affects the small and large intestines. The inflammation and damaged tissue appear in patches and are usually not continuous like in ulcerative colitis. The inflammation may also affect more than one layer of the walls and even result in gut perforation.
IBD does not have an exact cause, however, there are different processes thought to be involved:
IBD can only be diagnosed after ruling out other possible causes of your signs and symptoms. To aid the diagnosis of IBD, you will need a combination of several tests and procedures:
IBD rarely requires surgical intervention if well-controlled. Below are the surgeries for IBD if needed:
Pharmacological treatments:
IBD from hereditary causes cannot be prevented, but the risk of developing a flare-up can be prevented by:
IBD affects the GI tract, which is responsible for digesting and absorbing food. Therefore, poorly managed IBD can lead to many complications:
IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) most commonly includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) cannot be cured, but good control of the disease can increase the number and duration of the periods of remission, which is when the disease is not active.
IBD can be tested for and diagnosed by a colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, flexible sigmoidoscopy, CT scan, or MRI.
IBD stands for inflammatory bowel disease, the inflammation or destruction of the intestinal walls, or the walls along the GI tract. IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome, which is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, where there is a disturbance in bowel movement and function. IBD is a disease that is seen during diagnostic imaging, whereas IBS is not.
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