According To- Crohn’s Disease and Colitis: Why It’s Crucial to Get the Right Diagnosis? , Having diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and perhaps blood in your stool isn’t the only thing bothering you. You may be feeling tired, lacking appetite, and losing weight without realizing it.
There are two types of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). They both affect your digestive system and have a lot in common. They both:
The condition can develop at any age, but teenagers and young adults are more likely to develop it.
Equally affect men and women.
Symptoms are similar.
Genes, environmental triggers, intestinal bacteria imbalances, and inappropriate immune responses can all contribute to this condition.
It is unclear why people develop CD or UC, according to Banner – University Medicine gastroenterologist Avin Aggarwal, MD. Choosing appropriate treatment strategies requires a personalized approach to each patient, as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can be unpredictable.
Some patients recover after a single attack or are in remission for years, while others often require hospitalization and surgery. Some people have many symptoms, while others have just a few. Others suffer from mild, occasional symptoms, while others have intense symptoms that strike frequently.
Here are the differences between these conditions
Despite their differences, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both forms of inflammatory bowel disease.
Any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be affected by Crohn’s disease, from the mouth to the anus. You’ll have inflammation which involves all the layers of the bowel wall. There might be segments of diseased bowel mixed with normal bowel. You might also have scar tissue that builds up and narrows the intestines.
Unlike Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis only affects the inside layer of the large intestine. Scar tissue may develop, but it’s unlikely to narrow or block the intestine like Crohn’s disease.
CD and UC diagnosis
- Your doctor will probably recommend that you undergo a colonoscopy, which examines your large intestine and determines whether you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
- Indeterminate colitis affects about 10% to 15% of people with inflammation of the colon. It is hard to tell if someone has CD or UC, Dr. Aggarwal said. These diseases can be diagnosed and determined how severe they are with other tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, blood tests, and sigmoidoscopies.
- “A correct diagnosis is essential for staging the severity of the disease, identifying complications associated with each disease, planning treatment and predicting long-term outcomes,” said Dr. Aggarwal. Also Read-New Baby Seven Sleep Tips for Exhausted Parents
CD and UC treatment options
- Without proper treatment, both conditions may get much worse, and complications like abscesses, obstruction, malnutrition, and anemia may occur. Even in people who are in remission, colon cancer can be a serious complication of long-term ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
- According to Dr. Aggarwal, many people see improvements in their quality of life after being diagnosed and treated.
- In both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, treatment can help:
- Inflammation control
- Relieve symptoms
- Recurrence prevention
- Enhance quality of life
- According to Dr. Aggarwal, treating both types of inflammatory bowel disease requires a personalized approach because every individual and case is different.
Both conditions can be treated with the following options:
- Aminosalicylates (5-ASA), corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and antibiotics
- Biological therapies work by blocking specific pathways of inflammation in the gut in order to control diseases
- In times of flare, try eating smaller, more frequent meals that include fatty fish, and limiting caffeine, prunes, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
- The use of complementary therapies such as mindfulness, hypnosis, acupuncture, yoga, and exercise can help manage symptoms
- In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the diseased part of the digestive system if medication and other therapies don’t control symptoms.
- According to Dr. Aggarwal, new treatments are constantly being developed based on research into the immune system’s involvement in IBD symptoms.
- People with CD and UC can still live their lives as they did before diagnosis with proper treatment and lifestyle changes. Many people are able to live long, fulfilling lives despite the fact that the course is more challenging for some people than others, depending on their disease and how they respond to treatment.
Bottom line
Both inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, have similar symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloody stool, fatigue, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. You can control your disease with the right diagnosis.
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