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INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
CENTER
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Inflammatory
Bowel
Disease Center |
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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic disorders
that cause inflammation in the small and large intestines.
The two recognized forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis have many of the
same symptoms, which can make diagnosis a challenge.
Crohn’s disease,
which also is called ileitis or enteritis, causes the walls of the
intestines to become painful, inflamed and swollen. This swelling
could occur in any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is
a long and winding tube that runs from the mouth to the anus and
includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine,
liver, gall bladder and pancreas. There is no cure for Crohn’s
disease.
Ulcerative colitis usually affects the rectum and the large
intestine/colon and causes ulcers and inflammation that leads to
bloody diarrhea, pain and exhaustion. Some cases of ulcerative
colitis are cured by a colectomy (surgical
removal of the colon).
At
this time, there is no agreed-upon cause for IBD. Approximately 1
million Americans suffer from IBD, with 30,000 new
cases diagnosed each year. Both men and women get IBD; teens
and adults between 15 and 35 years old are the
most susceptible. In fact, 10 percent to 20 percent of people with IBD develop symptoms before they turn 18. About 10 percent of
patients with IBD have a close family member (parent,
brother/sister) who also has the disease.
IBD can be an
on-again, off-again problem with symptom-free periods that
last weeks, months or even years. Common IBD symptoms include:
Several tests are used to diagnose IBD. These include
blood and antibody tests, an endoscopic procedure (one of four types
of scopes, which are thin, flexible tubes with a lighted camera in
the tip that allow the doctor to view the lining of the GI tract)
and/or radiology tests (X-rays, CT scan, MRI and ultrasounds). These
tests help your doctor determine if you have IBD and if it’s colitis or Crohn’s, the extent of the disease and
any complications caused by the illness.
IBS is
a common intestinal disorder that causes cramps, gas, bloating,
diarrhea and/or constipation. In fact, approximately 25 percent of
people living in the United States have reported IBS symptoms. Only
the common cold causes more people to miss work than IBS.
While
both IBD and IBS share some symptoms (such as cramping and
diarrhea), IBS is a temporary dysfunction, not a disease, while both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic and extremely
serious.
Return to
Texas Children's IBD Center |
