ibdcrohns.about.comInflammatory Bowel Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

-- check mark-18px Menu Verywell Health An Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Share Flip Email Search Search Clear GO More in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosis Living With Support & Coping Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis Related Conditions Surgery Nutrition Treatment View More Tools & Resources Thyroid Test Analyzer Doctor Discussion Guides Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer Lipid Test Analyzer Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer Healthy Conversations Coach Renal Test Analyzer When Does an Epidemic Become a Pandemic? Juul Pod Ingredients Tobacco: New Legal Minimum Age Best OTC Flu Meds Intermittent Fasting and Cancer Causes of Lyme Disease Health A-Z Arthritis Type 2 Diabetes Heart Disease Digestive Health Lung Cancer Multiple Sclerosis View All Prevention & Treatment Vaccines First Aid Surgery Herbal Medicine Supplements Healthy Aging View All Health Care Health Insurance Public Health Patient Rights Health Technology For Caregivers & Loved Ones For Healthcare Professionals View All About Us Editorial Policy Privacy Policy Contact Us Visit our other Verywell sites: Verywell Fit Verywell Mind Verywell Family Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Print An Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) By Amber J. Tresca facebook twitter linkedin Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial policy Amber J. Tresca Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD on February 06, 2020 linkedin Priyanka Chugh, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Learn about our Medical Review Board Priyanka Chugh, MD on February 06, 2020 Inflammatory Bowel Disease Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Nutrition In This Article Table of Contents Expand Types Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Distinctions View All Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic diseases of the intestinal tract. The two diseases are often grouped together under the umbrella term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because of their similar symptoms. While there is no cure for either form of IBD, there are effective treatments. Medical and surgical advancements are occurring every year, and most people with IBD achieve remission and are able to preserve their quality of life. As many as 5 million people worldwide (including 1.6 million Americans) live with a form IBD.   IBD is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and is treated very differently. Types of IBD Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis present with similar symptoms, but there are some key differences . These include the location of inflammation in the digestive tract, where the inflammation begins, layers of the intestinal wall that are impacted, if granulomas are present on biopsy, and intestinal complications associated with the individual disease.   Differences Between IBD Types Ulcerative Colitis Crohn's Disease Location Large intestine Anywhere Starting Point Rectum Anywhere Intestinal Wall Impact Inner layer All layers Granulomas No Yes Complications Bowel perforation , colorectal cancer , and toxic megacolon Abscesses , bowel obstructions , fissures , and fistulas The effect of smoking on IBD also varies depending on the type. Smoking cigarettes may worsen Crohn's disease, but some people with ulcerative colitis only develop the disease after they stop smoking.   Symptoms The most common symptoms of IBD include, but are not limited to:   Abdominal pain Weight loss An urgent need to move bowels Fever Rectal bleeding Skin and eye irritations Diarrhea Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are also associated with complications such as: Itchy, red, or painful eyes Mouth sores Joint swelling and pain Skin bumps, rashes, and ulcers Kidney stones Liver problems such as cirrhosis (rare) Symptoms of Crohn's Disease Causes The root causes of IBD are poorly understood, but both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are immune disorders. In a healthy immune system, the body protects itself against foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. However, in IBD, the immune system attacks otherwise harmless environmental triggers, resulting in inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.   There are also hereditary factors that contribute to IBD. Researchers have identified hundreds of genes that may be associated with the disease. First-degree relatives of people who have IBD are significantly more likely to also have it. That said, the majority of people who are diagnosed with IBD have no such family history .   Other risk factors for developing IBD include:   Smoking Ethnicity: Whites and Ashkenazi Jews have a higher risk of IBD. Age: While people of any age can be diagnosed with IBD, it usually starts before age 35. Living in an urban area Poor diet and stress do not cause IBD, but they may contribute to a flare-up of symptoms. Causes and Risk Factors of IBD Diagnosis Several diagnostic tests are normally completed and studied by a digestive specialist (gastroenterologist) before a diagnosis of IBD is made. The "gold standard" for diagnosis is considered the colonoscopy . During this test, a fiber optic tube is inserted into the rectum while you are sedated to allow the doctor to inspect the lining of the large intestine and to take biopsies .   Other tests that may be used for diagnosis include: Barium enema Blood tests Capsule endoscopy Computed tomography (CT) scan Upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) series Sigmoidoscopy Upper endoscopy If you are diagnosed with IBD, you will need regular care from a gastroenterologist and support from other healthcare providers such as a dietitian/nutritionist, a primary care provider, or other specialists as needs arise.   How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Diagnosed Treatment Intervals of active disease ( flare-ups ) and periods of no disease activity ( remission ) are typical of IBD. Prescription drugs referred to as maintenance drugs are frequently used to prevent inflammation or to control an existing flare. Conventional medicines used to treat IBD include:   Sulfa drugs for ulcerative colitis: Azulfidine (sulfasalazine) Corticosteroids: Uceris (budesonide) , prednisone 5-Aminosalicylates for ulcerative colitis: Asacol , Apriso , Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA (mesalamine) Immunosuppressives: Imuran (azathioprine) , Purixan (mercaptopurine, 6MP) , Otrexup (methotrexate) Biologics: Remicade (infliximab) , Entyvio (vedolizumab) , Humira (adalimumab) Surgery is also sometimes used to treat IBD, and the type of surgery will vary considerably based on the type of IBD and what part of the digestive tract is inflamed. In Crohn's disease, symptoms and complications sometimes require surgery. The most common is a resection , during which surgeons remove a diseased piece of the intestine and reconnect the two cut ends. Ostomy surgery, including colostomy and ileostomy , are other surgical procedures that are sometimes recommended.   Most people with ulcerative colitis are able to manage their condition with medication and do not require surgery. However, if surgery is needed, it always involves the removal of the entire colon ( colectomy ). Additional surgical procedures include an ileostomy or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), more commonly called a j-pouch .   Diet can help you maintain proper nutrition and tame inflammation, but there is no one plan that works for all people with IBD. How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Treated Coping Having IBD can impact your life in many real ways. Not only can the symptoms be painful, but they can, at times, be embarrassing. Learning new ways to cope with and manage your disease can help improve your daily life and your emotional well-being. Be Prepared It helps to have a plan for worst-case scenarios , like not...