Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is the collective name of a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestines. IBD comprises ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The symptoms are fairly diverse, at times delaying accurate diagnosis.

Early diagnosis is important, as the prognosis is improved with prompt and effective treatment. Both conditions are life-long disorders, requiring expert management.

The principal types of the condition include Crohn’s disease that affects the small and large intestine, as well as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and anus; and ulcerative colitis that is restricted to the colon and the rectum.

IBD is majorly caused by an interaction of environmental and genetic factors. It is also associated with diet, alteration in the microbiota, and breach of intestinal barrier.

There are different treatment options that can be used in the management of IBD, including medication, surgery, medical therapies, nutritional and dietetic therapies, and alternative therapy.

UC AND CROHN DISEASE

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are dependent upon extent and severity of disease, and most commonly include bloody diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, and/or rectal urgency. Nocturnal defaecation is also often reported. Systemic symptoms of malaise, anorexia, or fever are features of a severe attack

Distribution of ulcerative colitis may vary from rectal inflammation only to left sided or total colonic involvement (pan colitis).

Remission is defined as complete resolution of symptoms and endoscopic mucosal healing

In clinical practice, participants agreed that ‘remission’ meant a stool frequency ≤3/day with no bleeding and no urgency.

The extent of ulcerative colitis influences the patient’s management. Disease extent influences the treatment modality and determines if oral and/or topical therapy is initiated

Classification of ulcerative colitis based on disease severity is useful for clinical practice and dictates the patient\’s management

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are dependent upon extent and severity of disease, and most commonly include bloody diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, and/or rectal urgen- cy. Nocturnal defaecation is also often reported. Systemic symptoms of malaise, anorexia, or fever are features of a severe attack …