- What Is IBD?
- GI Anatomy & Function
- Crohn's Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn's Versus Colitis
- Lifestyle Issues
Crohn's Versus Colitis
To recap…
Crohn’s Disease
- can involve “gum to bum,” and the small bowel is involved in the majority of cases
- affects full thickness of the bowel wall
- if the colon is involved, it is usually on the right side and rectal bleeding is common
- diseased sections of bowel are separated by “skip areas”
- areas of inflammation and fissures extend through the bowel wall
- main symptoms: abdominal pain, fever, and malnutrition
- complications: masses, fistulas, and abscesses are common
Ulcerative Colitis
- involves only the colon
- affects only the mucosa, except in severe cases
- colonic involvement is usually left-sided, and rectal bleeding is nearly always present
- disease usually starts in the rectum and moves up the colon, with no “skip areas”
- inflammation involves only the mucosa, except in severe cases
- main symptoms: bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain
- complications: bowel obstruction (“toxic megacolon”) may occur, but fistulas usually do not