Information About Inflammatory Disease Explained

Often thought of as an autoimmune disorder but the term inflammatory bowel disease is described as a group of disorders that encompasses two chronic diseases of the GI (Gastrointestinal Tract). The disorder of Inflammatory Bowel Disease causes chronic inflammation in the intestines affecting the digestive systems. Inflammatory Bowel Disease comprises Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis.

Types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease mainly includes two types of IBD.

1. Crohn’s Disease: Crohn’s disease mostly develops in the final section of the small intestine and colon. It can also affect any part of the digestive tract ranging between the mouth and the anus in the person aged 20–29.
2. Ulcerative Colitis: Ulcerative colitis is considered a condition that causes inflammation in the large intestine, colon. Apart from these ulcerative colitis is divided into different classes:
3. Ulcerative proctitis: Occurs when the inflammation stays in the rectum.
4. Pancolitis: Occurs when the inflammation spreads in the colon.
5. Proctosigmoiditis: Occurs when the inflammation spreads in the rectum and lower end of the colon.
6. Distal colitis: Occurs when the inflammation extends from the rectum to the left colon.
7. Acute ulcerative colitis: Occurs when the inflammation spreads over the entire colon.

Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease vary as per the location, type, and severity of the disease. The most common symptom of Inflammatory Bowel Disease are:

1. Blood in the stool
2. Diarrhoea
3. Fatigue
4. Weight loss

Apart from symptoms linked to the digestive system, there are other symptoms affecting the human body outside of the digestive system.

1. Fever
2. Skin problems
3. Joint pain
4. Iron deficiency
5. Pain

Complication Linked with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease leads to several serious complications including:

1. Intestinal bleeding
2. Rupture of the bowel
3. Narrowing and obstruction of the bowel
4. Fistulae
5. Toxic megacolon
6. Malnutrition

Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease is carried out based on the symptoms of various tests and exams.

1. Stool exam: Your healthcare provider will ask you for a stool sample taken to be sent to a laboratory for examination of bacteria, viral, and other causes.
2. Blood count: The blood count test refers to the test of increment in the white blood cell, count of red blood cells, and haemoglobin level. A lab technician will take the sample which will be tested in the lab.
3. Blood tests: Apart from normal blood counts, you will undergo other blood tests like electrolytes, protein, ESR, CRP, etc. The blood tests are done to obtain a closer look at how serious the disease is.
4. Sigmoidoscopy: Under Sigmoidoscopy the doctor uses a sigmoidoscope to examine the third-last layer of the intestine including the rectum and sigmoid colon. The scope used to visually examine is a narrow, flexible tube with a camera and light. The samples taken from you will be examined in a laboratory under a microscope.
5. Colonoscopy: Colonoscopy is considered similar to sigmoidoscopy which examines the entire colon. The procedure is carried out by a colonoscopy, a longer flexible tube. The test helps the doctor provide a look at the larger extent of the disease in the colon.

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