Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an overall term to describe two conditions: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Both of these are chronic conditions that involve inflammation of the gut.
Overview | Symptoms | Risk factors | Diagnosis | Colonoscopy | Cancer risk | Treatment | Video FAQs
Whilst ulcerative colitis only affects the colon and rectum, Crohn’s disease can affect the entire digestive tract – from your mouth to your oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.
Another difference is that ulcerative colitis tends to cause inflammation in only the inner lining of the gut, whereas the inflammation involved in Crohn’s disease may spread through the entire gut wall.
Symptoms
The symptoms of IBD differ according to which part of the digestive system is affected. They can include:
- Abdominal pain, aches, and stomach cramps
- Weight loss and a lower appetite
- Recurring diarrhoea (watery poo)
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Ulcers in your mouth
- Blood in your poo
- Chronic bloating
Some people experience fever, vomiting, and iron deficiency (anaemia). Children with this condition may also experience delayed growth.
Symptoms can come and go and at times flare up (causing more severe complications) or go into remission – where the problems are less noticeable, if at all.
A few people with IBD affecting just the colon (the last and biggest part of the large intestine) may have symptoms of both conditions, which is called indeterminate colitis.
Book an appointment with one of our specialists if you are experiencing the symptoms of IBD.
Risk factors
Although IBD can happen to people at any age, it is more common in those aged between 15 and 40. Crohn’s disease is twice as likely to affect smokers than non-smokers.
It is thought to be caused by genetic factors. You are more likely to develop IBD if a parent, brother or sister also has the disease. It also occurs if the immune system triggers a response in the digestive tract — either without a genuine infection or when inflammation does not go away after an infection.
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of IBD, we will usually recommend a lower-endoscopic procedure called a colonoscopy. This test allows us to confirm a diagnosis of IBD.
Colonoscopy involves moving an endoscope through your lower digestive tract. The endoscope has a camera on the end that we use to look for signs of inflammation or damage and collect a biopsy (small tissue sample). If you need a colonoscopy, read our blog to discover how to prepare for this procedure.
How often do you need a colonoscopy with IBD?
How frequent your colonoscopies are depends on the severity of your condition. We recommend an initial follow-up colonoscopy approximately 10 years after your diagnosis to monitor the progression of your condition, assess for potential complications, and determine the effectiveness of your treatment. We may then perform one every 3-5 years or every 1-2 years if you experience complications or severe inflammation.
If you appear to be experiencing complications, such as fistula or polyps, this may affect the treatment you receive. Colonoscopy can also diagnose other problems, such as anal fissures, haemorrhoids, and bowel cancer. We may do more regular colonoscopy checks if you have a family history of bowel cancer.
Risk of cancer
If you have Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, you may have a slightly higher risk of developing bowel cancer. This risk may increase a little 8-10 years after the appearance of your first symptoms. However, a colonoscopy will help us detect changes in your colon before cancer has a chance to develop. We call these precancerous changes dysplasia.
Inflammatory bowel disease treatment
There is currently no known cure for either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Treatments involve medications to relieve symptoms and dietary changes to prevent the problems from returning.
About one in five people with ulcerative colitis may require surgery to remove any badly affected section of the colon. People with Crohn’s disease will often need surgical procedures to alleviate the damage caused to their digestive system.
Book an appointment for private inflammatory bowel disease treatment at Digestive Health UK.
Book an appointment
Our gastroenterologists will use a colonoscopy to confirm a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, monitor your condition and track your treatment progress.
Book an appointment with one of our trusted specialists if you are experiencing symptoms of IBD or need a follow-up colonoscopy after diagnosis.
Tests
Blood tests
Stool tests
Gastroscopy
Colonoscopy
Capsule endoscopy
MRI scans
CT scans
U/S scans
Barium tests
Treatments / Symptom Management
Medications to reduce the inflammation
Steroids
Biologic therapies
Surgery
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