Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. At Mayo Clinic Healthcare, our gastroenterology specialists diagnose and treat IBD to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

IBD is a form of chronic bowel inflammation that affects the digestive tract.

The two main types of IBD are:

Ulcerative colitis, which affects the colon and rectum

Crohn’s disease, which can affect any part of the digestive tract

IBD is a long-term condition, but treatment can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can vary from person to person.

Common IBD symptoms include:

Frequent diarrhoea

Unexplained weight loss

Fatigue, even after rest

Blood in your stool

Other symptoms can include stomach pain, cramping, loss of appetite, and a frequent or urgent need to have a bowel movement.
Seek urgent care if you are experiencing:

Severe abdominal pain

Rectal bleeding

Vomiting blood

Large amounts of blood in your stool
Although IBD symptoms and IBS symptoms can overlap, they are different conditions that are treated differently.

Key differences include:

IBD causes inflammation and damage to the digestive tract, while IBS does not

IBD can increase the risk of complications, which may require surgery

IBS affects how the digestive system functions, but it does not cause permanent damage to the intestines.
The exact cause of IBD is not fully understood. Experts believe it is a result of the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue in your digestive tract, which ultimately results in inflammation.

Factors that may increase the risk of IBD include:

Immune system changes - IBD causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy cells

Genetics - particularly if you have a close family member with IBD

Environmental triggers - this may be changes to your diet, smoking, or gut microbiome changes
What can make inflammatory bowel disease worse?

Certain lifestyle factors and habits can make IBD symptoms worse, including:

Antibiotics

Smoking

Stress

Certain foods

Alcohol and caffeine

While these factors do not cause IBD, they can trigger symptoms or make flare-ups worse.
IBD can cause complications both inside and outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Serious complications include:

Colon cancer - people with IBD may have a higher risk of developing colon cancer

Perforated bowel - a hole in the intestine

Toxic megacolon - a severe widening of the colon that can become life-threatening

Other complications include:

Rashes and skin sores, including mouth sores

Anemia or blood clots

Malnutrition

Kidney stones
Your specialist will ask questions about your symptoms, medical history and lifestyle to help determine whether you may have IBD.

Questions can include:

Do any of your close relatives - parents, grandparents or siblings - have IBD?

How long have you had your symptoms?

How often do you experience these symptoms?

Have you made any recent dietary or lifestyle changes?

Have you been taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen?

Different types of IBD may need different treatments. Your specialist will work to identify the type of IBD you have so they can recommend the most appropriate care.
After your consultation, there are a variety of tests your specialist may recommend to help diagnose IBD and rule out other conditions.

These tests include:

A CT-scan, which uses X-rays to create detailed images of the digestive tract

Blood tests, which can detect inflammation or anemia

Stool tests, a non-invasive way of detecting intestinal inflammation

Colonoscopy, which uses a thin tube to examine the colon and rectum

Endoscopy, which examines the digestive tract
Although there is no known cure for inflammatory bowel disease, treatment can help manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and improve quality of life.

Treatment options may include:

Antibiotics, in some cases

Anti-inflammatory medicines

Biologics

Immune system suppressors

Anti-diarrheal medicines

Surgery

Surgery is usually only recommended in the most severe cases.
The severity of your IBD symptoms may vary over time, as may the impact they have on your day-to-day life.

There are a few ways you can manage your symptoms, including:

Dietary changes, such as avoiding food that triggers symptoms

Symptom tracking, which can help identify patterns that cause flare-ups

Stress management, including relaxation techniques

Private health insurance

Mayo Clinic Healthcare works with all major private health insurance providers, including AXA PPP, Aviva, BUPA, Vitality Health and WPA. Self-pay arrangements are also available.

Our Harley Street team is here to help diagnose and treat IBD in London. Request an appointment with us today.

Medically Reviewed by

Dr Sarmed Sami, Consultant Gastroenterologist