Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of conditions that cause swelling and inflammation of the tissues in the small and large intestines. The most common types of IBD include:

Ulcerative colitis– This condition leads to inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum.

Crohn’s disease- In this type of IBD, the deeper layers of the digestive tract are involved, most commonly in the small intestine. However, it also can affect the large intestine and, uncommonly, the upper gastrointestinal tract.

The disease commonly occurs in third to fifth decades of life. However, it may occur in early childhood and old age as well. The incidence of the disease is rising in India. Ulcerative colitis is predominantly found in northern India and Crohn’s disease in southern part of the country.
Symptoms of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease usually include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, extreme tiredness and weight loss. Severity may vary from mild illness to debilitating and life-threatening complications. The diagnosis is made using blood tests, stool examination, imaging studies like CT scan and colonoscopy. Effective drugs are available for treatment of the disease today and many patients are benefitting from these. Every year, 19 May is celebrated as World IBD day to raise awareness regarding this disease.

Dr. Mayank Jain
M.D, D.N.B, FISG, FINASL