Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the name for a group of chronic conditions in which the immune system causes ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract. The two main types are Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the tract from mouth to anus, and ulcerative colitis, which affects the colon and rectum.
IBD is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can cause similar discomfort but does not produce inflammation or visible damage. IBD tends to alternate between flare-ups and quieter periods called remission.
Common symptoms
Typical symptoms include diarrhea that persists for weeks, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in the stool, urgency, fatigue, and unintended weight loss. Some people also have symptoms outside the gut, such as joint pain, skin problems, or eye irritation. Symptoms vary widely from person to person and can change over time.
How IBD is diagnosed
There is no single test for IBD. Your gastroenterologist will combine blood tests, stool tests that measure intestinal inflammation, and endoscopy. A colonoscopy with biopsies is the cornerstone: it lets the doctor see the inflammation directly and confirm it under the microscope. Imaging such as CT or MRI is sometimes used to examine parts of the small intestine the scope cannot reach.
Treatment approaches
Treatment aims to calm the inflammation, relieve symptoms, and keep the disease in remission. Options range from anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating medicines to newer targeted therapies given as injections or infusions; the right choice depends on the type, location, and severity of your disease.
Some people eventually need surgery for complications or for disease that no longer responds to medicine. Ongoing monitoring — including colon cancer screening at shorter intervals than usual — is part of long-term care.
When to contact a gastroenterologist
See a gastroenterologist for diarrhea that lasts more than a couple of weeks, blood in the stool, bowel movements that wake you at night, or abdominal pain with weight loss. If you already have IBD, contact your care team early during a flare — fever, worsening pain, persistent bleeding, or dehydration should not wait for the next routine visit.
Take-home information sheet
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Questions about your care?
This page is general education, not personal medical advice. Your care team is happy to talk through what it means for you.