Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are by far the most prevalent forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Crohn's Disease:
Crohn’s disease can attack any portion of the digestive tract, although inflammation most commonly occurs in the lower portion of the small intestine. The disease can cause ulcerations within the intestine that can erode into surrounding tissues such as the bladder, vagina, or even the surface of the skin. Inflammation in Crohn’s disease is not limited to the intestine - some people who have Crohn’s disease have inflammation of the eyes and joints as well.
The most common symptoms of the disease include severe abdominal pain, which can present with or without diarrhea. Diarrheal stool may be mixed with blood, mucus and/or pus and bowel movements are often painful. Cramping in the right lower side of the abdomen is common, especially after meals. People with Crohn’s disease often have chronic low-grade fever, poor appetite, fatigue, and weight loss. Skin rashes may also occur. People who have Crohn’s disease often have some degree of anemia, related to poor iron, folic acid, and/or vitamin B12 absorption and due to chronic blood loss. Those with mild Crohn’s can eat and function reasonably normally, while those with severe disease often fail to respond to conventional treatment and have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as fevers, and infections. Diagnosis of Crohn’s disease is usually based on a patient’s medical history and symptoms. Diagnostic tests may be used to confirm the disease and to distinguish it from ulcerative colitis. Such tests include x-rays (with contrast material such as barium), colonoscopy, and endoscopy.
No blood test can diagnose Crohn’s disease, but routine testing is usually done to detect anemia, infection, degree of inflammation, and determine liver function.
Ulcerative Colitis:
Ulcerative colitis is characterized by inflammation of the large intestine (colon) that leads to episodes of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and even fever. Unlike Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis usually does not affect the full thickness of the intestine and rarely affects the small intestine. The disease usually begins in the rectum or sigmoid colon and spreads partially or completely through the large intestine.
A definitive diagnosis can be made by direct examination of the colon by sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy Both procedures can be used to take a biopsy of intestinal tissue, which can reveal important information about the degree and extent of inflammation and help rule out other causes of symptoms. Further classification of Ulcerative Colitis can be grouped as Severe (affecting the whole colon with serious blood loss), Moderate (various symptoms with minimal signs of inflammation), or Mild (the most common form, which responds well to treatment).