What is inflammatory bowel disease?

Christina Bauer, MD

Gastroenterology

Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term used to describe autoimmune disorders that cause inflammation of the colon, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterologist Christina Bauer, MD, explained the differences between these disorders, early signs, how IBD is treated and more.

What’s the difference between Crohn’s disease and colitis?

“The main differences between the two are that Crohn’s disease can affect anywhere in the GI tract, whereas ulcerative colitis only affects the colon,” Dr. Bauer said.

Crohn’s disease can also cause connections or fistula between parts of the bowel. It can also have deeper inflammation that can cause abscesses or infection in the abdominal cavity.

Inflammation with colitis is confined to the first layer of the intestine.

What are some early signs of inflammatory bowel disease?

Early signs of inflammatory bowel disease can encompass a range of symptoms. The most common include abdominal pain, changes to stool, diarrhea and blood in the stool. But there can be other more subtle symptoms, like ulcers in the mouth, weight loss, low blood count or joint pain.

Over time, IBD can lead to problems such as strictures in your colon, which is a narrowing of the colon that can block or slow bowel movements, or even cancer. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any early symptoms.

 “We can help provide a diagnosis and then get you started on treatment quickly, so that you can get back to your normal activities,” Dr. Bauer said.

How is IBD treated?

“This is a really exciting time in the field of IBD,” Dr. Bauer said. “We have a lot of new emerging treatments, both biologic and small molecule inhibitors, that can be administered through injections, infusions or even orally.”

These medicines aim to reduce inflammation in the colon.

“There are several medications being studied in clinical trials that look really promising for the future as well,” she said.

How can IBD impact a person’s life?

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition that can put a lot of stress on a patient’s life because of the symptoms that can often be associated with them, including needing to go to the restroom frequently and pain.

“We know that patients with inflammatory bowel disease can have concurrent diagnoses of anxiety and depression, and so really prioritizing your mental health while coping with having a chronic illness is important,” Dr. Bauer said.

Let your primary care provider or gastroenterologist know if you are struggling so they can refer you to a therapist who can help.

What can you do to support a loved one with IBD?

The main way you can help a loved one with inflammatory bowel disease is to be sensitive to their symptoms. Understand that they may need to access a restroom quickly if they’re at a family gathering and ask what they’re able to eat. They may need some dietary modifications to help them digest their food a little bit more easily.