Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes a series of chronic conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease can affect any region of the digestive system, including the mouth and anus. This illness can affect numerous layers of the intestinal wall and is commonly associated with deeper tissues. It can cause abdominal pains, severe diarrhoea, fatigue and weight loss.
Ulcerative colitis affects the colon and rectum. Contrary to Crohn’s disease, it often appears as chronic inflammation, particularly affecting the colon’s lining. The main signs of active illness are stomach discomfort and bloody diarrhoea (hematochezia), weight loss, fever, and anaemia, all possible side effects of ulcerative colitis.
The symptoms of both conditions can sometimes overlap but the typically have some distinct features.
The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
As for Ulcerative colitis, the symptoms are:
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should refer to a specialised doctor at Cornerstone Clinic who will evaluate your family history and for how long you have experienced the symptoms in order to perform diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Since Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation that can develop anywhere in the digestive system, there is no specific test that can be used to diagnose the disease. Blood tests, a physical examination, and tissue sample collection for a biopsy can all be used to confirm the diagnosis. Intestinal endoscopies such as upper endoscopy and colonoscopy can be performed to understand the situation and accurately exclude other possible conditions. Other scans can be performed, such as an MRI or a CT scan, after drinking a special solution that will make your bowel show up on the scan and, therefore, analyse the situation better.
On the other hand, since the inflammation seen in ulcerative colitis is localised to the lining of the large intestine, a colonoscopy is frequently used to make the diagnosis. The day before the procedure, the doctor will instruct patients to undergo a bowel preparation, which involves drinking a specific solution to cleanse the colon. On the day of the colonoscopy, sedation can be administered to ensure comfort. Like gastroscopy, the endoscope will be inserted into the rectum and gently moved into the colon. The images on screen will be in real-time, and the entire procedure usually takes 30 minutes up to 1 hour.
Both the causes of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are still unknown. Medical research believes that environment and genetics play a part in their development. A family history of irritable bowel disease (IBD) enhances the likelihood of developing symptoms. There can also be an immunological dysfunction where the immune system generates an inflammatory response against the digestive tract when it should not. Also, changes in the gut microbiome have been related to the development of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
If left untreated, both conditions could lead to complications, including:
This is why it is important to refer to a specialist if you have any concerns or are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms.
The prevention of both conditions can be complex due to their aetiology; however, some changes can be made in order to reduce the risk of developing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These include:
To book a consultation or for more information, call +971 50 494 6377 to schedule an appointment with our gastroenterologist, Dr Giovanni Leonetti.
Prof. Dr. Giovanni Leonetti is a licensed general surgeon who obtained his medical degree at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, where he also received his PhD in Advanced Technologies in Surgery. He teaches Gastroenterology at Unicamillus Health University of Rome. During his career, he has refined the most modern and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy techniques for treating diseases affecting the digestive system.
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