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| Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to two chronic conditions that cause
inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. The two main types of IBD are
ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. While their symptoms and treatments are
similar, they differ in where inflammation occurs and symptoms. IBD requires
lifelong management to control symptoms and prevent complications.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune
system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the gastrointestinal tract resulting
in chronic inflammation. The exact cause of IBD is unknown but it is believed
to be due to a combination of environmental, genetic, and immunologic factors.
Some examples that may trigger IBD include changes in the gut microbiome, diet,
smoking habits, and various infections.
Two Main Types
Ulcerative colitis causes long-lasting Inflammatory
Bowel Disease and ulcers in the innermost lining of the large intestine
and rectum. The inflammation usually affects the bottom part of the colon but
in some cases can involve the entire large intestine. Crohn's disease, on the
other hand, can impact any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to
anus. It often causes patches of inflammation in the lining that can be
separated by normal areas of the digestive tract. However, in Crohn's disease
the inflammation usually affects the full thickness of the intestinal wall.
Common Symptoms
Some common symptoms of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease include
abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight
loss. The symptoms are variable depending on the severity and location of inflammation.
They can range from mild to severe resulting in life-altering complications
like abscesses, colon or intestinal cancer, or sometimes even need for surgery.
Diagnosis and Testing
Diagnosing IBD requires ruling out other conditions through medical history,
physical examination, stool tests, endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy, imaging
tests and blood work. Since symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders,
diagnosis involves confirmation of characteristic gastrointestinal inflammation
through specialized tests.
Treatment Goals
The goals of treatment are to induce and maintain remission of symptoms by
reducing gut inflammation, allowing for healing of intestinal lining and
prevention of complications. Lifestyle changes such as diet and stress
management along with medications are used to manage the disease. Common oral
medications include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators and
biologics. For patients with severe disease, hospitalization may be required
for intravenous steroids or nutrition support. In some cases when medications
fail surgery may be necessary.
Living with IBD
IBD is a chronic condition requiring lifelong treatment and monitoring even
during remission. Individual treatment plans are tailored based on the extent
and location of disease as well as response to medications. Close monitoring by
a gastroenterologist is important for early detection of complications or
worsening of disease. Vaccination against infection is also recommended. While
IBD cannot be cured, with proper management people can lead fulfilling lives
with few symptoms or limitations. Support groups are also beneficial for coping
with this condition both physically and emotionally.
IBD Research
Researchers are constantly working on understanding the causes, improving
current treatments and developing new management options for IBD. There has
been promising development in biologic therapies targeting specific parts of
the immune system. Studies are also investigating the role of gut microbiome
and probiotics to restore intestinal balance. Advances in surgical techniques
make resection of affected bowel segments less invasive. With ongoing worldwide
collaboration and clinical trials, there is hope that in the future IBD may
transform from a chronic illness to one that can potentially be controlled or
even cured.
IBD including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis causes long-lasting
inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract due to an abnormal immune
response. Proper management of IBD requires a collaborative approach with
lifestyle modifications and medications tailored specifically for each
patient's disease characteristics and progression. While IBD currently has no
cure, advancements in research are continuously improving quality of life and
outcomes for people living with this chronic condition.
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