Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD is a condition where the body's immune system attacks and damages the digestive tract. There are two main types of IBD, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Ulcerative only affects the large intestine. Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract but often involves the end of the small intestine.
IBD can also cause problems outside the digestive tract including pain or swelling in joints, skin problems, and eye inflammation. Ulcerative colitis is diagnosed with colonoscopy. During the procedure, we look for inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon. Small tissue samples are then taken to confirm the diagnosis.
Crohn's disease can also be diagnosed with a colonoscopy with inspection of the end of the small intestine with a scope. If Crohn's disease mainly affects the small intestine, additional tests such as capsule endoscopy or other advanced imaging may be needed. Treatment depends on how severe the disease is, which parts of the bowel are affected, and whether it causes problems outside the intestines. Treatments can range from suppositories or enemas to pills, injections, or infusions. Steroids are used initially to induce remission of inflammation but are not good as long term medications for IBD due to their serious side effects. Some people with inflammatory bowel disease may eventually need surgery, however because there are now many more effective medications available, surgery is needed less often than it was in the past. So really, there's a lot more options for patients with IBD than there used to be.
