How To Recognize Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The name "inflammatory bowel disease" tells us that it is a disease in the bowel (which may be the large or small intestine) due to inflammation, usually without known reason. This term refers to two major diseases: Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

This harmful, chronic disease is the main intestinal inflammatory disease in developed countries. Inflammatory bowel disease used to be an adulthood disease, but now more frequently occurs between the ages of 15 and 25.

Genetic factors also play an important role in this chronic disease and, according to the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics 17th edition, "The importance of genetic factors in the development of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) is noted by a higher chance that both twins will be affected if they are monozygotic (twins produced from two sperms and one ovum) rather than dizygotic (twins produced by two sperms and two ovum)".

The risk of family members of people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease acquiring the same disease is significant. According to the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics 17th edition, "The risk of IBD in family members of an affected individual has been reported in the range of 7-22%; a child whose parents both have IBD has a greater than 35% chance of acquiring the disorder".

We recognize that genetic factors are playing a major role in inflammatory bowel disease, but environmental elements (such as pollution and food quality) are also a factor. Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor of these diseases, especially Crohn's Disease.

Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease:

Crohn's Disease:

1. Low fever and diarrhea (may be hard to notice).
2. Pain in the right side (especially at the lower abdomen).
3. A growth (such as an abscess) in the peritoneal area which is secreting pus.

Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. He may evaluate you by taking radiographic image.

Ulcerative Colitis

1. Diarrhea (loose stool) containing blood.
2. Pain in the lower part of the abdomen.

When you consult your doctor he will seek a CBC (complete blood count for anemia), a stool culture and a sigmoidoscopy (an examination of the intestines through the rectum), which help diagnose the disease.

Prognosis:

Inflammatory bowel disease, if well diagnosed and treated by medical or surgical means, will be controlled successfully and the patient will cope with and will be a productive individual without limitations or with minimal limitations.