Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that describes disorders involving long-standing or chronic inflammation of tissues in your digestive tract.

 

Types of IBD:

• Ulcerative colitis: this condition involves inflammation and sores (ulcers) along the lining of your large intestine (or colon) and rectum.

• Crohn's disease: this type of IBD is characterised by inflammation of the lining of your digestive tract, which often can involve the deeper layers of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease  can affect the small intestine, the large intestine and  less commonly, the upper gastrointestinal tract.

 

The common symptoms of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. It can present at any age but often presents in young people.

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Diagnosis: 
Tests for IBD include:

Blood tests, stool tests, Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy, Capsule endoscopy, Bowel imaging, including MRE, and intestinal ultrasound.
 

 

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