Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is the inflammation of your digestive tract—the entire tract or only part of it.

IBD comes in the form of:

• Crohn’s disease (CD): an IBD that can cause any part of the lining of your digestive tract to become inflamed—from your esophagus, stomach, small intestine to your large intestines.
• Ulcerative colitis (UC): an inflammatory bowel disease that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of your colon and rectum.

• Indeterminate colitis: an IBD that is indistinguishable between CD and UC.

IBD symptoms include

• Diarrhea
• Fever and fatigue
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Blood in your stool
• Reduced appetite
• Unintended weight loss

The cause of IBD remains unknown. An immune system malfunction or genetics are possible causes. While finding a cure for IBD is very difficult, your doctor can prescribe medication—anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, antibiotics, and other over-the-counter medications—to help reduce inflammation and calm symptoms to bring you into remission.