by Wood D

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to long term health problems that cause inflammation in the lining and sometimes the wall of the intestine. The two main types are:

Ulcerative colitis—This type causes inflammation and ulcers in the top lining of the colon and rectum. Some people it develop colon cancer. The risk of cancer is greater the longer a person has the disease.

Ulcerative Colitis
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Crohn disease—This type causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining and the wall of any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It usually affects the small intestine, mostly the last section called the ileum. But it can affect any part of the tract from the mouth to the anus. The problem reaches deep into the layers of the intestinal wall. Crohn disease can lead to blockages and fistulas. These are abnormal links between the intestine and other organs or tissues.

Crohn's Disease
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The cause of IBD is not known. It seems to run in some families. It is also thought to happen when an infection causes the immune system to overreact and damage the intestines.

What are the risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease?What are the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease?How is inflammatory bowel disease diagnosed?What are the treatments for inflammatory bowel disease?Are there screening tests for inflammatory bowel disease?How can I reduce my risk of inflammatory bowel disease?What questions should I ask my doctor?Where can I get more information about inflammatory bowel disease?

References

Crohn disease in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/crohn-disease-in-adults. Accessed April 25, 2022.

Ulcerative colitis in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/ulcerative-colitis-in-adults. Accessed April 25, 2022.

What is Crohn's disease? Crohn's & Colitis Foundation website. Available at: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-crohns-disease. Accessed April 25, 2022.

What is Ulcerative Colitis? Crohn's & Colitis Foundation website. Available at: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-ulcerative-colitis. Accessed April 25, 2022.

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