
What Is IBD?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that describes a group of disorders in which the intestines become irritated and inflamed. We use it to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract. It occurs when the immune system is triggered and causes inflammation of the bowel.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Over time, inflammation can result in numerous complications, including pain, weight loss, bleeding, intestinal blockage, and cancer.
Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, and often involves the full thickness of the bowel wall. It can also be patchy, involving different segments of the GI tract.
Ulcerative colitis involves only the colon, and is typically continuous in location, starting at the bottom of the GI tract (the rectum) and extending up throughout the colon. Ulcerative colitis does not involve the small intestine or other organs of the digestive tract besides the colon.
How are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis diagnosed?
Symptoms that are common to both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include:
- Diarrhea, and rectal urgency
- Fever, weakness, malaise
- Abdominal pain, bloating, and cramping
- Blood in your stool
- Reduced appetite
- Unintended weight loss
If your doctor suspects IBD based on your symptoms and family history, you will typically undergo testing to confirm the diagnosis. We typically recommend blood and stool testing, imaging studies such as CT or MRI scanning, and a colonoscopy or endoscopy (or both) to look for signs of inflammation and other potential causes. During endoscopic procedures, we will biopsy abnormal-looking areas for our expert pathologists to examine under the microscope.
How is inflammatory bowel disease treated?
After we have made the diagnosis and accumulated the data we need, we will meet with you to discuss the treatment options. We will make these complex decisions collaboratively with you, taking into consideration your lifestyle, special concerns such as family planning, work schedule, travel needs, and other illnesses. Where necessary, we will involve allied specialists like dieticians or surgeons in your care. Drawing on our vast experience and network, we will help you settle on the treatment plan that is right for you. With modern medications, we can usually control your disease with medication to help reduce inflammation and control the aberrant immune system response. Successful management of IBD requires a close working relationship between patient and provider.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) treatment options include:
- Combination of 5 ASA drugs
- Immune system suppressors
- Biologic therapies
- Other modalities
Important Reminder:
The information provided above is meant to be used as an informative guide for patients. For precise and individualized recommendations, please consult with one of our board certified gastroenterologists to discuss your symptoms.
For additional information or to book an appointment at the Aayushman clinic Gastroenterology Center, please feel free to reach out to our dedicated team by calling us at 8860291508. You can also schedule online or reach out to us via the Contact Us form.