What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Types, Symptoms, and Causes

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of intestinal disorders that cause chronic inflammation of tissues in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract, also known as the digestive tract, includes the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. This system is responsible for breaking down food, extracting essential nutrients from it, and removing any unusable or unwanted products from the body. When a person suffers from inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract, it disturbs the normal process.

There are two most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

• Crohn’s Disease: This type of IBD can affect any part of the GI tract (from mouth to anus) causing pain and swelling in the small intestine and sometimes the upper part of the large intestine.
• Ulcerative Colitis (UC): This affects only the lining of the large intestine (the colon) and the rectum, causing sores (ulcers) and swelling.

What are the common symptoms of IBD?

Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms vary from mild to severe depending upon the severity of inflammation and the place of occurrence. The symptoms can come and go. Some of the common signs and symptoms of IBD that are common to both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include:

• Persistent diarrhea, alternating with occasional constipation or bowel urgency. This occurs when the intestine’s affected parts are unable to resorb water.
• Sometimes, the person may experience diarrhea with blood and mucus in the stool.
• The patient may suffer from abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating due to bowel obstruction.
• The person may experience a loss of appetite, low energy, and unexplained weight loss.

Some of the rare symptoms of IBD include:

• Unexplained fever
• Fatigue
• Problem in vision with itchy, red, and painful eyes.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Joint pain
• Skin rashes and ulcers

What causes IBD?

Researchers are still looking for the disease’s precise cause to understand why some people develop IBD. But according to the experts, three major factors can increase the risk of developing IBD, and those are:

• Genetics: It has been found that several gene mutations are connected to IBD, and 1 out of 4 patients suffering from IBD has a family history of the condition. If the person’s parent, sibling, or child suffers from IBD, the risk of developing it in themselves increases.
• Overactive Immune System: The immune system in a person fights infection and defends the body from pathogens, but, in the case of IBD, it may play a role in its development. The immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the GI tract, causing IBD symptoms. This is known as an autoimmune response.
• Environmental Factors: Some people who have a family history of IBD may develop the disease when exposed to certain environmental factors. This may include certain kinds of medication, smoking, stress, depression, etc.

You must contact your healthcare provider if you experience an IBD flare, extreme abdominal pain or diarrhea, unexplained fever and weight loss, signs of dehydration, etc. Follow the instructions about making some changes in your lifestyle and diet to manage IBD.