Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two bowel disorders that are caused by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract; Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both conditions commonly start with people in their teens and twenties.
At LDH, we offer expert diagnosis and full treatments to help control and reduce inflammation levels for patients experiencing IBD, helping to heal the lining of your bowel and return bowel habits to normal. Please read on for more information about ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon or large intestine. The main symptoms are urgent diarrhoea, tiredness and blood in your stools. The exact cause of the disease is not yet known, but appears to be an exaggerated response of the body’s immune system to the naturally occurring bacteria within the gut - leading to damage and ulceration of the delicate lining of the colon.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, but most commonly affects the last part of the small intestine. Active Crohn’s in this area can cause abdominal pain after eating, bloating and distension, which can lead to weight loss and fatigue. Symptoms include diarrhoea, and infections or abscesses around the back passage or anus. These infections are often caused by a deep ulcer within the bowel, which has developed into a fistula.