Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases involve a variety of inflammatory disorders of the small and large intestines. Ulcerative colitis involves an inflammation of the colon only, while Crohn’s disease involves inflammation of any part of the GI tract (from the mouth to the anus).

The signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease include steatorrhea and loose stools, fevers, weight loss, and various kinds of fistulas. In ulcerative colitis (UC) there is bloody, mucus-filled stools, tenesmus, fever (in severe cases), and an increased risk for colon cancer. The biggest complication for UC is colon cancer; however, anemia is a common complication.

Figure 4 shows the difference between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease:

Figure 4