Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes a group of conditions, the two main forms of which are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD also includes indeterminate colitis. One in 140 Canadians is living with Crohn’s and colitis.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are diseases that inflame the lining of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract and disrupt your body’s ability to digest food, absorb nutrition, and healthily eliminate waste. These are lifelong diseases. People with these conditions can experience acute periods of active symptoms (active disease or flare), and other times when their symptoms are absent (remission).
Signs and symptoms
– Abdominal pain and cramping
– Severe diarrhea
– Rectal bleeding
– Blood in stool
– Weight loss and diminished appetite
– Anemia
– Fatigue
Complications:
– Blockage of the intestine due to swelling or formation of scar tissue
– Abscesses
– Sores
– Fistulas
– Malnutrition
– Colon cancer
Causes and risk factors of Crohn’s and colitis include genetics, the environment, and the microbiome.
