Inflammatory Bowel Disease, often referred to as IBD, consists of a group of disorders that cause inflammation throughout the digestive tract that affects about 1.3% of adults. There are four types of IBD:
- Difficulty or distress with defecation
- Ulcerative Colitis (UC): Inflammation in the lining of the colon
- Crohn’s Disease (CD): Patches of inflammation anywhere in the digestive system
- Indeterminate Colitis: Includes features of UC and CD
- Microscopic Colitis: Type of UC in which inflammation is only visible via microscopic examination
Common symptoms of IBD include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping
- Fecal urgency
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Blood in stool
A diagnosis of IBD typically requires the following testing and procedures:
- Physical exam
- Blood work
- Stool sample
- Colonoscopy with biopsy