Generally, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD in short) encompasses two
diseases, one Ulcerative Colitis and the other is Crohn's disease.
These diseases typically occur in the younger population - 20 to 40
years of age but it can occur earlier or later also.
Patients often present with diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain
and cramps. Some patients can have signs and symptoms outside the GI tract including skin lesions, joint pain
(arthritis), red eye, mouth sores or back pain. In rare cases, patients can have liver problems also.
It is unclear how and why patients develop these diseases but, there is a genetic
component to it - meaning it is more common in patients with relatives having either Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
Generally, patients who present with these symptoms have a low hemoglobin and a
high ESR (a blood test which signifies inflammation in the body) or elevated CRP (a blood test which signifies
inflammation in the body).
Treatment usually involves taking a 5 ASA medication (e.g. Asacol, Pentasa,
Colazal or mesalamine). In severe cases, patients may need prednisone or hydrocortisone or some other
immunosupprant IBD medicationessant (a medicine which suppresses the body immune system) agent e.g. Imuran or methotrexate or cyclosporine.
