ibdcrohns.about.comInflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Overview and More

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Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ⓒ 2024 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved Health A-Z Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosis Living With Support & Coping Crohn’s Disease Ulcerative Colitis Related Conditions Surgery Nutrition More Treatment Medically reviewed by Ashley Baumohl, RD Updated on June 21, 2023 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that encompasses two chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms of both forms of IBD overlap and include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and an urgent need to move the bowels. While there is no cure for either form of IBD, there are effective treatments to keep the disease in remission. Types What Is Crohn’s Colitis? Ileocolitis: An Overview and More What Is Gastroduodenal Crohn’s Disease? The Different Forms of Ulcerative Colitis What You Need to Know About Indeterminate Colitis Key Terms Colonoscopy Crohn’s Disease Endoscopy Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract Sigmoidoscopy Ulcerative Colitis Colonoscopy A procedure in which a flexible, lighted tube equipped with a tiny TV camera, called a colonoscope, is inserted into the rectum and threaded through the colon to look for any evidence of cancer, polyps, ulcers, or other abnormalities. Colonoscopy is one of several tests used to diagnose IBD. What to Know About a Colonoscopy Crohn’s Disease A chronic disease that causes inflammation along the digestive tract. Along with ulcerative colitis, it is one of two gastrointestinal disorders classified as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, weight loss, and blood in stools. An Overview of Crohn’s Disease Endoscopy A procedure used to visualize internal organs. An endoscope, a flexible tube with a lighted camera attached, is inserted down through the mouth, up through the rectum, or through a small incision made in the skin, depending on which part of the body is being examined. A colonoscopy, used to visualize the colon, is one type of endoscopy. The Different Types of Endoscopy Procedures Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) A non-invasive way to screen feces for blood that’s not visible to the naked eye, known as occult blood. Typically, you are asked to provide three small stool samples and then send them to a lab for examination. If there’s blood in your stool, this indicates a need for further testing. What Is a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)? Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract A series of interconnected organs that are responsible for digesting food and excreting waste products in the stool. The GI tract is essentially one long tube, starting at the mouth and ending at the anus. Diseases of the GI tract include irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer. Organs That Make up the Digestive System Sigmoidoscopy A minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose intestinal symptoms and look for the presence of abnormal tissue in the rectum and sigmoid colon. Unlike a colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy only examines the rectum and the lower part of the large intestine, which is called the sigmoid colon. Sigmoidoscopy is often used to help diagnose IBD and in follow-up and surveillance of disease activity. What to Expect From a Sigmoidoscopy Ulcerative Colitis A form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main sign of ulcerative colitis is inflammation of the colon and rectum, which causes a variety of symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract, including pain and bloody stool. Crohn’s disease is the other disease that is considered a form of IBD. What Is Ulcerative Colitis? Symptoms What Does IBD Pain Feel Like? Ulcerative Colitis Stool: Why Your Poop Changes Crohn’s Disease Poop: What You Need to Know Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Bloody Stools May Be a Sign of IBD Causes & Risk Factors What You Need to Know About Inflammatory Bowel Disease If You Take The Pill, Are You at Risk for IBD? Can Acne Drugs Like Accutane Cause IBD? Diagnosis How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Diagnosed How Crohn’s Disease Is Diagnosed What Age Do Most People Get Crohn’s Disease? Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis and Testing: How the Process Works Frequently Asked Questions What causes IBD? There is no known specific cause of IBD, making it what is known as an idiopathic disease. Researchers believe that a malfunctioning immune system, genetics, and certain lifestyle factors contribute to the disease. Learn More Causes and Risk Factors of Inflammatory Bowel Disease What is the difference between IBS and IBD? IBS is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abdominal pain and change in bowel habits. IBD is a disorder characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and, in the case of Crohn’s disease, can also affect other organ systems such as skin, joints, eyes, liver. IBS is classified as a syndrome, while IBD is classified as a disease . How is IBD diagnosed? Because symptoms of IBD, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, can mimic those of other gastrointestinal conditions, it can be challenging to get an accurate diagnosis. Keeping a diary of your symptoms is useful for your doctor, who will likely order blood and liver function tests, as well as imaging tests including a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy. Learn More How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Diagnosed Treatment How Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Is Treated Get Info on Proctectomy Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease What Are the Different Types of Colectomy Surgery? Comparing 6 Biologic Drugs Used to Treat IBD Clinical Remission Is Not the Main Goal in IBD Treatment Nutrition What Should You Eat and Avoid with Ulcerative Colitis? The 5 Fruits That Are Easiest to Digest What You Should Eat During an IBD Flare-up Is IBD Robbing You of Vitamin B12? Does the IBD Anti-Inflammatory Diet Help? Intestinal Gas and Abdominal Bloating Are Annoying but Very Treatable Gaining Healthy Weight With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is IBD Causing Your Loss of Appetite? What Should You Do If You Have IBD And You’re Dehydrated? Coconut Water May Help With Ulcerative Colitis, Study Finds Can Probiotics Cause Diarrhea? Why Autoimmune Diseases Affect More Women Than Men Inflammatory Bowel Disease Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know Does IBD Increase Your Risk of COVID-19? What Is an IBD Flare-Up? Does IBD Cause Night Sweats? When to See a Doctor About Pain in the Perianal Area What Is Magnetic Resonance Enterography? What Is Endoscopic Ultrasound? An Overview of the Bristol Stool Chart...