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American College of Gastroenterology
Digestive Disease Specialists Committed to Quality in Patient Care
Common Gastrointestinal Problems
A Consumer Health Guide
but there is little evidence to suggest that stress is a major cause for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are two types of Examination of the colon by colonoscopy is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The large intestine commonly performed in order to determine the presence (colon) can be inflamed in ulcerative colitis, involving the of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s colitis and is also helpful in inner lining of the colon, or by Crohn’s disease, which judging the severity and extent of the disease. The extends the inflammation deeper into the intestine wall.
examination requires that your colon be cleansed with one Crohn’s disease can also involve the small intestine (ileitis), of several laxative preparations. Sufficient sedation is or can involve both the small and large intestine given to keep you comfortable during the procedure. A flexible tube is inserted into the rectum and advanced through the colon. Biopsies of the bowel lining are usually performed for diagnostic purposes and color photographs are often obtained so that comparison with previous or future examinations can be accomplished.
IBD is a true inflammation of the intestine which can Barium x-rays of the upper and lower gastrointestinal result in bleeding, fever, elevation of the white blood cell tracts are also useful for establishing the diagnosis. The count, as well as diarrhea and cramping abdominal pain.
barium is administered by mouth or rectally and x-rays are The abnormalities in IBD can be visualized by barium x-ray obtained in order to determine if the small intestine or or colonoscopy. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a set of symptoms resulting from spasm or abnormal function of the small and large bowel. The Irritable Bowel Syndrome is characterized by crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or constipation, but is not accompanied by fever, bleeding or an elevated white blood cell count. Examination by Ulcerative colitis may lead to chronic bleeding, colonoscopy or barium x-ray reveals no abnormal findings.
diarrhea, and anemia. Crohn’s disease sometimes results in progressive narrowing of the small intestine leading to increasing crampy abdominal pain and possibly abscess There is no single explanation for the development of formation, the accumulation of pus outside the intestine.
IBD. A prevailing theory holds that a process, possibly viral, Crohn’s disease may cause persistent diarrhea and fever bacterial, or allergic, initially inflames the small or large intestine and, depending on genetic predisposition, results in the development of antibodies which chronically “attack” the intestine, leading to inflammation.
Approximately 10 percent of patients with IBD have a close family member (parent, sibling, child) with the disease.
Various formulations of 5-ASA, a drug which has
been used to treat IBD for over 50 years, are available as oral preparations, suppositories, and enemas. These are Emotional stress due to family, job or social pressures often one of the first drugs used to treat IBD.
may result in worsening of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome For More Information about Digestive Health and GI Conditions Call the American College of Gastroenterology Hotline at 1-800-978-7666 or visit our Website at http://www.acg.gi.org ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Corticosteroid therapy, such as prednisone or hydrocortisone, are given when the 5-ASA products are insufficient to control inflammation. These drugs can be given orally, rectally as suppositories or enemas, or Crohn’s disease of the small or large intestine can be treated surgically for complications such as obstruction, If you do not respond adequately to these programs, abscess, or failure to respond adequately to treatment. The drugs which suppress the body’s ability to make antibodies disease may recur at some time after the operation.
against the disease (known as anti-immune therapy) are Ulcerative colitis is cured after the entire colon is used. Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) are the
removed. This surgery, in the past, required an ileostomy two most commonly used drugs for anti-immune therapy.
(the lower small intestine is brought out to the abdominal wall and an appliance is worn to collect the output). A recent surgical procedure which avoids the need for an external Sulfasalazine, the initial 5-ASA product, may cause
nausea, indigestion or headache in about 15 percent of patients. The newer drugs have fewer side effects. Chronic corticosteroid therapy can lead to fluid retention and high blood pressure, some rounding of the face and softening of the bones similar to osteoporosis. These complications usually prompt attempts to discontinue corticosteroid treatment as soon as possible. The anti-immune drugs require periodic monitoring of the blood count since some patients will develop a low white blood cell count. These drugs, however, are well-tolerated in most patients.
Physicians prefer to maintain good nutrition for those diagnosed with IBD. If you are responding well to medical management you can often eat a reasonably unrestricted diet.
A low-roughage diet is often suggested for those prone to diarrhea after meals. If you appear to be milk sensitive (lactose intolerant), you are advised to either avoid milk products or use milk to which the enzyme lactase has been Early and proper treatment often results in considerable improvement in your condition. Most patients with treated IBD are productive and functioning individuals. A small percentage of those with ulcerative colitis and a larger percentage of those with Crohn’s disease will eventually

Source: http://crohn.xf.cz/crohn/inflam.pdf