Inflammatory bowel disease is the general term for two disorders that cause irritation, swelling, bleeding, and open sores in the digestive system. These two disorders are ulcerative colitis << UHL suh `ray` tihv koh LY tihs >> and Crohn’s << krohnz >> disease.
Ulcerative colitis inflames the rectum (last part of the large intestine). Inflammation may also extend into the colon (main part of the large intestine). The disorder affects the layer of tissue that lines these organs. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal cramps and bleeding from the rectum. Diarrhea also occurs because inflammation prevents the intestine from absorbing liquid, leading to watery stools. Ulcerative colitis that lasts more than 10 years increases the risk of colon cancer.
Crohn’s disease can inflame any digestive organ from the mouth to the anus (outside opening of the rectum). Inflammation usually extends into the muscles and other tissues enclosing these organs. The disease may completely penetrate an organ and create an opening to neighboring structures. Inflammation can occur in patches, separated by areas of normal tissue. Symptoms depend on what areas are inflamed and can include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss. The deep inflammation causes severe pain and can block the intestine. The skin, eyes, or joints may also become inflamed.
Causes.
Doctors do not yet know what causes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but they have seen patterns in how IBD occurs. For example, IBD usually starts when people are in their teens or 20’s. IBD occurs more often in industrialized countries than in the developing world.
Doctors suspect that genes (units of heredity) are involved in IBD because the disease runs in families. But no specific inheritance pattern or abnormal genes have been discovered. One theory is that IBD involves several genes as well as other factors, which may include microbes, the immune system, or unknown causes.
Diagnosis and treatment.
To diagnose IBD, doctors must rule out other causes of inflammation, such as infections or an inadequate blood supply. Diagnosis usually involves X rays and endoscopic << `ehn` duh SKOP ihk >> studies, in which doctors view the digestive organs directly through a thin, lighted tube. Samples of inflamed tissue may also be examined under a microscope.
IBD is a chronic (lifelong) disease. Doctors treat IBD with drugs that reduce inflammation. Surgeons can cure severe, long-lasting ulcerative colitis by removing the colon and rectum. Surgery does not cure Crohn’s disease, but may be used to remove sections of inflamed or blocked intestine when medical treatment is not effective. Some Crohn’s patients receive nutritional supplements.
See also Colitis; Colon cancer; Crohn’s disease.
