This is the inflammation of parts of the digestive system that mainly involves two conditions; the ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease. Although the ulcerative colitis only affects the large intestine (colon), the crohn’s disease can involve all of the digestive system. Some of the less common types of inflammatory bowel disease include collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. Although the exact cause remains unknown, it can be the result of the immune system malfunction.
Crohn’s disease
This is the inflammation of the digestive system that commonly affects the last part of the small intestine (the ileum) or the colon. This is a chronic life-long condition that can have periods of relapses or flare-ups. The symptoms of this condition vary between each individual and depend on the digestive part that is affected. The symptoms can also range from mild to severe and include mouth ulcers, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, feeling unwell and fatigue. It is estimated to affect millions of individuals worldwide and appears to be common among those descended from Ashkenazi Jews. This condition can develop at any age from 10 to 40 and may occur as the result of the abnormal reaction of the immune system in the reaction to an intestinal infection.
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is the inflammation and the ulceration of the lining of the rectum and the colon. When the inflammation only affects the rectum, it is known as proctitis and when it involves the entire colon, it is known as total colitis or pancolitis. The ulcers that develop can bleed and even produce pus. This is an ongoing life-long condition that can have periods of remission, relapses or flare-ups. The symptoms of this condition also vary among the affected individual and can include fatigue, cramping of the abdomen, diarrhea, anemia, loss of appetite, weight loss and the feeling of unwell. Although this condition can affect individuals of any age, it initially appears around the ages of 15 and 25.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on various tests and procedures that can confirm the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. This can include tests for anemia, to check for infections and the fecal occult blood test that identifies the presence of blood in the stool. The endoscopic procedures involve colonoscopy that can take a sample of the affected tissue to be diagnosed, upper endoscopy that observes the esophagus, the stomach and the duodenum and the double-ballon endoscopy. An x-ray can rule out complications such as perforated colon, CT scan to look at the detailed image of the entire bowel and MRI to determine abnormalities.
Treatment
There is no cure for inflammatory bowel disease. The goal of the treatment for inflammatory bowel disease is to reduce the inflammation, to provide relief from the symptoms and to reduce the risk of complications. Anti-inflammatory medications can reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and are administered orally or intravenously based on the part of the digestive tract affected. The immune suppressors can also reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system and the antibiotics can help prevent or control the infection.
References
https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-inflammatory-bowel-disease/crohns-disease
