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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
The term IBD is used mainly to describe two diseases:
Crohn’s disease
ulcerative colitis
Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic (long-term) diseases that involve inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (gut).
It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the two main types of IBD. If this is the case, it known as indeterminate colitis.
There are other, rarer types of IBD called collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis.
Over time, inflammation damages the lining of the gut, and this causes ulcers to form, which may bleed or produce mucus.
In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation can make the gut narrower, which creates an obstruction (this is called stricturing disease).
The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are similar. They include:
abdominal (tummy) pain - this is more common in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis
a change in bowel habits: urgent and/or bloody diarrhoea or (rarely) constipation
weight loss
extreme tiredness
Not everyone has all of these symptoms, and two individuals with the same condition can have very different symptoms. Some people may experience additional symptoms, including nausea and fever.
The symptoms of IBD can come and go over long periods. People may experience periods of severe symptoms (flare-ups), and go through periods when they have few or no symptoms at all (remission).
IBD is usually diagnosed in people in their late teens or early twenties, but it can appear at any age.
Generally, depending on the level of severity, IBD may require immunosuppression to control the symptom, Often, steroids are used to control disease flares and were once acceptable as a maintenance drug. In use for several years in Crohn's disease patients and recently in patients with ulcerative colitis, biologicals have been used such as TNF inhibitors. Severe cases may require surgery, such as bowel resection, strictureplasty or a temporary or permanent colostomy or ileostomy.
How common is it?
In the UK, IBD affects about one person in every 350. About 160,000 people have ulcerative colitis, and 80,000 people have Crohn’s disease.
The term IBD is used mainly to describe two diseases:
Crohn’s disease
ulcerative colitis
Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic (long-term) diseases that involve inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (gut).
It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the two main types of IBD. If this is the case, it known as indeterminate colitis.
There are other, rarer types of IBD called collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis.
Over time, inflammation damages the lining of the gut, and this causes ulcers to form, which may bleed or produce mucus.
In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation can make the gut narrower, which creates an obstruction (this is called stricturing disease).
The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are similar. They include:
abdominal (tummy) pain - this is more common in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis
a change in bowel habits: urgent and/or bloody diarrhoea or (rarely) constipation
weight loss
extreme tiredness
Not everyone has all of these symptoms, and two individuals with the same condition can have very different symptoms. Some people may experience additional symptoms, including nausea and fever.
The symptoms of IBD can come and go over long periods. People may experience periods of severe symptoms (flare-ups), and go through periods when they have few or no symptoms at all (remission).
IBD is usually diagnosed in people in their late teens or early twenties, but it can appear at any age.
Generally, depending on the level of severity, IBD may require immunosuppression to control the symptom, Often, steroids are used to control disease flares and were once acceptable as a maintenance drug. In use for several years in Crohn's disease patients and recently in patients with ulcerative colitis, biologicals have been used such as TNF inhibitors. Severe cases may require surgery, such as bowel resection, strictureplasty or a temporary or permanent colostomy or ileostomy.
How common is it?
In the UK, IBD affects about one person in every 350. About 160,000 people have ulcerative colitis, and 80,000 people have Crohn’s disease.
