Inflammatory bowel disease: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Written by:
Colorectal surgeon
Published: 24/07/2023
Edited by: Sophie Kennedy
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause a range of symptoms that greatly affect a person’s quality of life. Fortunately, with careful management, targeted treatment helps many patients to find relief from their symptoms. In this informative article, highly respected consultant colorectal and general surgeon Professor Lee Dvorkin shares his expert insight on the most common symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, as well as the diagnostic process and various approaches to treatment.
What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
Inflammatory bowel disease is the name given to two main diseases of the bowel; ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. They are different diseases, but both cause the bowel to become inflamed and lead to several symptoms. If the disease becomes severe, medical treatment with drugs and occasionally surgery is needed.
What are the symptoms of IBD?
Symptoms vary but include diarrhoea with urgency (having to rush to the toilet), mucus and blood from the bottom, tummy pain and weight loss. In children, delayed growth can occur.
How is IBD diagnosed?
Once the diagnosis is suspected, the doctor will perform a number of tests that will include a stool sample called calprotectin. This looks at whether the bowel is inflamed. Scans may also be needed to check the area of bowel that is affected.
However, the diagnosis is most commonly made by colonoscopy (a camera test in the bowel). Tissue samples can be taken of the bowel and, together with the other test results, usually allows the doctor to make a diagnosis. Sometimes, the diagnosis can be difficult to make and it may not be possible for the doctor to know whether this is colitis or Crohn’s disease.
What causes IBD?
The exact cause is unknown but there appears to be an abnormal immune response to certain environmental factors that lead to the bowel inflammation. There is also a genetic component with a higher chance of having IBD if a close relative also has it.
How is IBD treated?
Treatment depends on how severe the symptoms are and which part of the bowel is affected, so it may be different for each patient. In general, we treat IBD with dietary changes and various medications (including anti-inflammatory drugs, immune modulators, biological drugs and steroids). In severe cases, surgery is needed to remove the affected bowel. Many patients with Crohn’s disease get problems around their bottom and surgery is often needed for this.
Is there a cure for IBD?
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease. The aim of the treatment is to get the disease into remission for as long as possible. Once in remission, the patient’s symptoms will settle and sometimes ongoing medication is not needed.
For others, it may be more difficult to achieve remission and stronger medication or even surgery may be needed. Ulcerative colitis is usually controllable with medication but if this doesn’t work, it can be cured with surgery. Surgery involves removing the whole large bowel which is a major procedure and only recommended if all medicines fail.
If you are concerned by symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease or are seeking effective treatment for your condition, you can schedule a consultation with Professor Dvorkin by visiting his Top Doctors profile.