Because of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the digestive system may be inflamed for a long time. The term "chronic disease" describes conditions that persist throughout time. People who suffer from IBD often have severe intestinal inflammation. The most common inflammatory bowel illnesses are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).
About 70,000 new cases of IBD are found every year, which means that more than 1.6 million Americans have the disease. Although IBD is more common in people aged 15 to 30, it can be diagnosed at any age. Up to 80,000 American youngsters are thought to be at risk. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurs equally frequently in men and women.
The most common forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Crohn's Disease: What is it?
Ulcers can grow anywhere in the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, in people with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel illness. Normal "skip" zones can occur in patients with Crohn's disease. These unaffected regions are located in the spaces between the impacted ones. Even mild symptoms of Crohn's disease can be debilitating for some persons who suffer from it. The symptoms experienced by some are less severe. Without therapy, some persons with the condition go for extended periods without showing any symptoms. People with more severe symptoms will require more extensive treatment and possibly surgical intervention.
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Redness and swelling of the colon (the large intestine) are symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis. The inflammation and redness can disappear after a few weeks or linger for months. The terminal ileum is invariably affected by ulcerative colitis (the rectum). It may affect the lower part of the colon or spread farther up the colon. No "skip" patches, as seen in Crohn's disease, ever appear in ulcerative colitis. A person may experience a remitting pattern of symptoms. In medical terminology, these episodes are referred to as flare-ups. Flare-ups can persist for months at a time and can occur at any point in your life.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Causes
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has multiple causes. A combination of genetic, immune system, and environmental variables is responsible for the condition. The emergence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a complex interplay of many gene mutations.
Specifically important is a gut immune system that is inappropriately 'hyper-reactive' to normal flora in the intestinal tract. More than 160 genes have been linked to IBD, according to studies. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is more common in families where one or both parents have the condition, increasing the likelihood that their offspring may also be affected.
The root cause of inflammatory bowel disease is unknown, and researchers are working to find out. Scientists have made much progress in the last 10 years in understanding how IBD works. This has led to a wider range of possible treatments for the different types of the disease.
Symptoms of IBD
Constant digestive tract inflammation can lead to diarrhea, stomach cramps and pain, bloody stools, and ulcers. Fever, loss of appetite, exhaustion, and weight loss are other symptoms that patients may experience. IBD symptoms can differ greatly across individuals and evolve.
Complications of IBD
Chronic inflammation in the digestive tract can have effects inside and outside of the digestive system. Abcesses, fistulas, holes in the digestive tube (perforations), malabsorption, and nutritional deficiencies are all problems that can arise inside the gastrointestinal system. Common extraintestinal symptoms include bone osteoporosis, inflammation of the eyes, joints, mouth, and skin, kidney stones, and sclerosing cholangitis.