Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn’s Disease

What is IBD?

IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which includes:

• 🔹 Ulcerative Colitis (UC) – affects the large intestine (colon).
• 🔹 Crohn’s Disease – can affect any part of the digestive tract, from mouth to anus.

These are chronic conditions caused by an overactive immune system, leading to long-term inflammation.

Common symptoms:

• 💩 Loose stools or diarrhea
• 🩸 Blood in stools
• 🤕 Abdominal pain
• ⚖️ Weight loss, fatigue

What Happens in IBD?

Crohn’s Disease
Can affect any part of the digestive tract – from mouth to anus, most commonly the small intestine and colon.

• 🌀 Narrowing (strictures) due to swelling like a traffic jam in your gut.
• 🕳️ Fistulas – abnormal tunnels between the intestine and other organs or skin.
• ⚠️ Patchy involvement – healthy areas mixed with inflamed ones.

Extraintestinal symptoms (outside the gut):

• Joint pain
• 🌿 Skin rashes
• 👁️ Eye irritation
• 🧪 Liver problems

📋 In cases of narrowing, your doctor may recommend a low residue diet – soft, easy-to-digest foods.

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
Affects only the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Inflammation starts from the rectum and spreads upward.

• 🔥 Continuous inflammation – unlike Crohn’s, the inflammation is not patchy.
• 🩸 Bloody diarrhea a common symptom due to ulcers in the colon lining.
• 🔄 Urgency and frequency – sudden, repeated urges to pass stool.
• 💧 Mucus in stools due to damage to the colon lining.

Extraintestinal symptoms may also occur, similar to Crohn’s.

Treatment Plan

IBD needs long-term treatment and regular checkups.

Medications help to:

• 🧯 Reduce inflammation
• 🛡️ Maintain remission (control phase)
• 🔄 Prevent complications

Types of medicines:

• 💊 5-ASA
• 💊 Steroids
• 💊 Immunosuppressants
• 💊 Biologics

If a treatment stops working, it may be switched this is common and manageable.

Sometimes surgery may be considered in specific clinical scenarios

What You Should Know

• ✔️ Take medications regularly skipping can cause a flare.
• ✔️ Doctor may adjust doses based on your labs and symptoms.
• 🧼 During immunosuppression:
• ✔️ Wash hands often
• ✔️ Avoid uncooked or street food
• ✔️ Avoid crowded places during illness seasons
• ✔️ Get your vaccinations (your doctor will advise)
• Diet Tips:
• ✔️ During flares or strictures → low residue diet (no raw veggies, nuts, or seeds)
• ✔️ Eat small meals, drink plenty of water
• This condition is manageable with teamwork your commitment + our care.