Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), is a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. It is often confused with the more common and less severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a syndrome that does not cause inflammation. There are two types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Crohn’s disease is an IBD that typically occurs as inflammation in the small intestine, although it can affect any part of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis is an IBD that produces continued inflammation and ulcers in your large intestine and rectum. As many as 25% of new IBD diagnoses are pediatric cases and require early and regular medical intervention.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Weight Loss
- Abdominal pain
- Delayed Puberty
- Rash
- Bloody stool
Because symptoms can vary greatly, it is best to be evaluated by a gastrointestinal specialist for diagnosis.
Treatment
The treatment plan may vary based on your specific diagnosis, but can include drugs or surgery to alleviate your symptoms. While there is no cure for IBD, the goal is to prevent future inflammation, which can damage the intestines over time.