Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a term for two conditions (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and this prolonged inflammation causes damage to the GI tract. Crohn's disease causes inflammation of your digestive tract and presents as symptoms of severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. Crohn's disease can involve different parts of your gastrointestinal tract in different people.

Ulcerative colitis on the other hand is a long-term condition where distal parts of the gastrointestinal tract such as the colon and rectum are inflamed and ulcerated with pus production.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: The severity and incidence of symptoms vary among different people, however, the common symptoms experienced are,

● Bloody Stools

● Abdominal Pain

● Diarrhea

● Fever

● Rectal Pain

● Weight Loss

● Fatigue

● Malnutrition ●

Feeling of full bowel even after defecation Additional symptoms which are uncommon but may present are,

● Joint Pain and Swelling

● Nausea and Decreased appetite

● Skin problems

● Mouth sores

● Perianal Fistula

● Eye Inflammation

● Shortness of breath

● Decreased ability to exercise

 

 

CAUSES OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE:

According to the researchers,  ulcerative colitis occurs due to an overactive immune system, however, other factors that may contribute are genes, immune disorders, and environmental factors such as bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms. The causes of Crohn’s disease are somewhat similar to ulcerative colitis, and the factors that affect the severity of the disease are smoking status, age, rectum involvement, and duration of time you have had the disease.

 

 

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF IBD?

The common risk factors for Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are age, race, ethnicity, family history, lifestyle, smoking, and appendectomy.

 

 

DIAGNOSIS:

For diagnosing Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis, no single diagnostic test is sufficient and the tests commonly used to deduct diagnosis are,

● Blood Tests

● Stool Test

● Endoscopy

● Colonoscopy

● Imaging Techniques (CT Scan, Ultrasound, MRI)

● Biopsy or Tissue Sampling

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF IBD:

Medications:

The medication that your doctor will prescribe you depends upon the severity of your symptoms and the commonly prescribed ones are Mesalamine, Sulfasalazine, Balsalazine, Olsalazine, and 5-aminosalicylate for mild symptoms. And if you have moderate to severe symptoms, you may be prescribed Infliximab, Vedolizumab, Ustekinumab, and Tofacitinib.

 

Surgery:

If less invasive treatments and lifestyle changes do not cure and lessen the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, surgery becomes necessary and in 75% of people, it is the ultimate necessary thing to do. Surgery involves removing the damaged portions of your digestive tract and reconnecting the healthy portions.

 

REFERENCES:

https://www.healthline.com/health/crohns-disease 

https://www.healthline.com/health/ulcerative-colitis mayoral.in/3kjbmhX

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