Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing pathology that affects different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. tract and affect the mucous membrane. As the disease progresses, typical dyspeptic disorders are noted, as well as extraintestinal manifestations. (for example, weakness and pruritus).
Varieties of intestinal diseases
Inflammatory bowel disease often occurs in association with ulcerative colitis, a condition that primarily affects the colon, causing flare-ups and remissions. The main symptom of this pathology are abdominal pain. In addition, diarrhea is present, and in severe cases, internal bleeding is observed, which is expressed in a change in the color of the feces. Other types of inflammation in the intestines include:
- Crohn's disease. This is a chronic inflammatory disease, localized in almost all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The terminal ileum is predominantly affected. The development of the disease leads to significant tissue damage, causes fatigue, weight loss, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
- Inflammation of the colon. The disease is caused by infections, intestinal ischemia or radiation. It often progresses against the background of chronic inflammatory processes, such as ulcerative colitis.
Almost all of these inflammatory bowel diseases occur against the background of a violation of the microbiota of the small and large intestine. Crohn's disease develops due to a genetic predisposition.
Symptomatics
Signs of an inflamed intestine are determined by the location of the lesion and the gradation of the disease. Most of the symptoms are characterized by cyclicity: phases of active manifestation are replaced by relative calm - at this time, discomfort is almost not felt and it seems that the disease is receding. Remission lasts from 2-3 months to several years.
To improve the quality of life and avoid possible complications, it is important to be able to identify the signs of the disease. To do this, you need to consult a doctor in a timely manner and undergo a comprehensive examination.
Digestion-related symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include:
- Persistent or recurrent diarrhea, sometimes with blood or mucus in the stool.
- Cramping or persistent pain in the abdomen.
- Bleeding from the intestines (typical of Crohn's disease).
- Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels, false urge to defecate.
- Anal fissures (typical sign of ulcerative colitis).
- External or internal fistulas (for Crohn's disease).
The main sign of an inflamed intestine, not related to digestion, is a deterioration in the general condition. The patient at the same time quickly gets tired, he often tends to sleep. In addition, body temperature rises, appetite disappears and, against this background, weight decreases. Anemia often develops due to blood loss and insufficient absorption of iron. In some cases, there are pain in the joints, inflammation of the eyes and the appearance of red, painful nodular rashes on the skin.
The presence of one or more of the above manifestations requires immediate consultation with a doctor. The sooner the diagnosis is established and adequate treatment is started, the higher the likelihood of maintaining health.
Diagnostic features
The diagnosis begins with a detailed discussion of the symptoms. The doctor then looks at the patient's history, including past illnesses, diet, and lifestyle.
Further diagnostic steps:
- Physical examination. The doctor performs palpation of the abdomen and evaluates the patient's appearance, including the color of his skin and mucous membranes, the condition of the tongue, and body features.
- Laboratory tests. This includes general and biochemical blood tests, urine and coprogram. If necessary, the patient takes a bacteriological analysis of feces. These studies help the doctor assess the general health of the patient and determine the possible causes of the disease.
- Instrumental diagnostics. This includes endoscopy (such as colonoscopy or upper GI endoscopy) as well as x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging.
If necessary, the doctor refers the patient for additional consultations with other specialists.
IBD diagnosis: what is it? Inflammatory bowel disease is determined on the basis of the clinical picture, the results of laboratory and instrumental studies.
