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.
The information AGH supplies on this website should not be used as a substitute to your regular physician’s medical advice. Your research from this website should not be used as a medical diagnosis. Consult your regular physician for diagnoses and treatments. The information found on this website is for educational purposes only. A formal consultation with a surgeon or doctor is needed before pursuing surgical procedures or medical treatments. Individual results may vary.