The inflammatory bowel disease symptoms include frequent diarrhea episodes and unpleasant abdominal cramping (IBD). This phrase refers to a group of long-term, inflammatory diseases that affect the intestines similarly but differently. Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can cause these symptoms to happen again and again.
Around the same number of men and women are affected by IBD. In most cases, a diagnosis is made between ages 15 and 30, though it can happen later in life, in the 60s or 70s. Based on the available data, anywhere between 600,000 and 900,000 Americans have ulcerative colitis, whereas more than 500,000 people in the United States deal with Crohn's disease.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms can be managed and even prevented with the help of the right medication. After years of dealing with ulcerative colitis, some patients will require surgery (to remove the colon and rectum). Complications from Crohn's disease can similarly necessitate surgical intervention. Colorectal cancer risk may be higher in those with both disorders.
Treatment for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis should focus on relieving the patient's symptoms and reducing the intestinal inflammation that can lead to problems.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
The terms ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, which induce persistent inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, are collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease. Both diseases have symptoms like diarrhea and stomach pain, and both have times when the symptoms get worse and when the symptoms go away. Research shows that symptoms are not necessarily related to inflammation; therefore, it is crucial to keep taking your medicine even if you feel fine.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comes in various forms, each with its unique physical manifestations.
Ulcerative colitis: Consecutive sections of the rectum and the intestinal lining of the colon are damaged by inflammation.
Crohn’s disease: Inflammation caused by this illness can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, causing damage to some areas while sparing others. There is often co-location of healthy and sick tissue.
Inflammation is the underlying cause of both illnesses, leading to symptoms such as bloating, ulcers, and irritation that can eventually damage digestive tissue. This is the root cause of the bleeding and subsequent diarrhea.
Some patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease have fewer symptoms and less damage than others, and vice versa; the disease progresses along a continuum from mild to moderate to severe.
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
There is a wide range of ulcerative colitis symptoms. The severity of your symptoms and the extent of damage to your large intestine are both factors. Symptoms that are fairly common include:
- Stomach ache or bleeding from the rectal area
- Constant, small bowel movements
- A strong need to defecate
- Diarrhea
- Stools containing blood
- Discomfort and cramping in the abdomen
- An urgent need to defecate is accompanied by an inability to do so (called tenesmus)
- Abdominal pain on the left side
- Unintentional slimming
- Fatigue
Most patients with ulcerative colitis experience intermittent bouts of these symptoms. Having a symptom-free phase followed by a symptom-filled period is possible.
Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease
There is a wide range of ulcerative colitis symptoms. Both factors are how bad your symptoms are and how badly your large intestine is hurt. Symptoms that are fairly common include:
- Stomach ache or bleeding from the rectal area
- Constant, tiny stools
- A strong need to defecate
- Diarrhea
- Stools containing blood
- Fatigue
- Discomfort and cramping in the abdomen
- An urgent need to defecate is accompanied by an inability to do so (called tenesmus)
- Abdominal pain on the left side
- Unintentional slimming
Most patients with ulcerative colitis experience intermittent bouts of these symptoms. Having a symptom-free phase followed by a symptom-filled period is possible.
How is Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosed?
The first step in figuring out what's wrong is for your doctor to do a thorough physical exam and talk with you about your symptoms. Your doctor could request tests, including blood work and a bowel movement, to help with the diagnosis. To get a clear picture of your colon, your doctor may recommend one or several operations. Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy are two types of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy.
As part of these treatments, your doctor may put a thin, bendable tube into your large intestine to look at what's inside. When you get an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, your stomach and small intestine can be examined for ulcers.
This endoscopic procedure may require swallowing a tiny camera (called capsule endoscopy). If this is not possible, your doctor will likely use an oral intubation procedure to implant a scope into your digestive system. Besides X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, your doctor may recommend other imaging tests.