IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)

IBD (inflammatory bowel disease): A group of chronic illnesses that cause inflammation of the bowel -- the small or large intestine. The most common types of inflammatory bowel disease are ulcerative colitis and CrohnÆs disease. The portion of the intestine affected by inflammatory bowel disease becomes irritated and swollen. Ulcers may form. Inflammatory bowel disease can be limited to the intestine or it can be associated with disease involving the skin, joints, spine, liver, eyes, and other organs. Although people of any age can be affected by inflammatory bowel disease, the diagnosis is most commonly made in young adults. The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include abdominal pain and diarrhea. These symptoms are far from being specific signposts pointing to inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, a physician usually has to exclude other illnesses, including bowel infections, before making a firm diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. The course of inflammatory bowel disease is typically unpredictable. Symptoms tend to wax and wane, and long remissions and even the spontaneous resolution of symptoms are well known. The treatment involves the use of medicines and sometimes surgery, depending upon the type and course of the inflammatory bowel disease under care. Effective therapy exists for the majority of cases. Research in this area is bringing new and promising treatments to patients.