Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is an umbrella term for long-term conditions that cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. It is not a single illness but a family of them, and its two main forms are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation; Cleveland Clinic).

The clearest way to tell the two main forms apart is where they inflame: ulcerative colitis stays in the colon, while Crohn's disease can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation).

IBD is not the same as IBS

The names look alike, but the conditions are different. IBD involves real inflammation and tissue damage in the gut. IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, does not. Both can affect the gut and cause distress, but only IBD leaves visible inflammation that a doctor can see and treat (Cleveland Clinic).

A lifelong but treatable condition

IBD is a lifelong illness for which there is currently no cure, but it is far from untreatable. A range of medicines and, for some people, surgery can calm the inflammation, ease symptoms and keep the disease from disrupting daily life (Cleveland Clinic).

What causes it

IBD is thought to develop when immune system cells in the gut mistakenly attack healthy tissue. This tends to happen in people with a genetic susceptibility, combined with environmental factors. There is no single known cause (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation; Cleveland Clinic).