Key Facts
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation of all or part of your digestive tract. IBD primarily includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IBD can be painful and debilitating, and sometimes leads to life-threatening complications. IBD symptoms vary from person to person - and usually over time. IBD is a chronic (long term) disease and if you have IBD you will probably have periods of good health (remission) and then relapses or 'flare-ups' when the symptoms get worse.
The main symptoms are:
Treatment
The goal of inflammatory bowel disease treatment is to reduce the inflammation that triggers your signs and symptoms. In the best cases, this may lead not only to symptom relief but also to long-term remission and prevent complications. IBD treatment usually involves either drug therapy or surgery.
There are different classes of drugs that will be used in combination to control the inflammation. These include anti-inflammatory drugs (5-ASA, Corticosteroids) and immunosuppressant drugs (Azathioprine, Methotrexate, Cyclosporins, Biologics - Infliximab, Adalimumab, Certolizumab).
Occasionally antibiotics are used in the acute flare of colitis or in patients with abscesses.
If symptoms are not controlled by medication, surgery may be required. In ulcerative colitis the total removal of the colon and rectum effectively eliminates UC. Surgery for Crohn's unfortunately is not curative but can provide a period of remission and is usually done for complications such as strictures.
- IBD is a condition that involves chronic inflammation of the digestive tract and consists of Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease
- Ulcerative colitis involves only the large bowel
- Crohn's disease can involve the lining from the mouth to the anus
- The etiology is unknown at present
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation of all or part of your digestive tract. IBD primarily includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IBD can be painful and debilitating, and sometimes leads to life-threatening complications. IBD symptoms vary from person to person - and usually over time. IBD is a chronic (long term) disease and if you have IBD you will probably have periods of good health (remission) and then relapses or 'flare-ups' when the symptoms get worse.
The main symptoms are:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea (sometimes mixed with blood, especially in Ulcerative Colitis)
- tiredness and fatigue
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- abscesses and fistulas (in Crohn's)
- swollen joints, mouth ulcers and eye problems
Treatment
The goal of inflammatory bowel disease treatment is to reduce the inflammation that triggers your signs and symptoms. In the best cases, this may lead not only to symptom relief but also to long-term remission and prevent complications. IBD treatment usually involves either drug therapy or surgery.
There are different classes of drugs that will be used in combination to control the inflammation. These include anti-inflammatory drugs (5-ASA, Corticosteroids) and immunosuppressant drugs (Azathioprine, Methotrexate, Cyclosporins, Biologics - Infliximab, Adalimumab, Certolizumab).
Occasionally antibiotics are used in the acute flare of colitis or in patients with abscesses.
If symptoms are not controlled by medication, surgery may be required. In ulcerative colitis the total removal of the colon and rectum effectively eliminates UC. Surgery for Crohn's unfortunately is not curative but can provide a period of remission and is usually done for complications such as strictures.