Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly referred to as IBD, is an umbrella term for a group of long-term conditions, principally Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, that cause chronic inflammation somewhere along the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gut from mouth to anus, while ulcerative colitis is confined to the colon and rectum, and the two conditions, though related, often behave quite differently and require different approaches to management. IBD most commonly develops in teenagers and young adults, although it can begin at any age, and its exact cause remains only partly understood, with genetic, immune and environmental factors all thought to play a role. Symptoms typically follow a pattern of flares and periods of remission, and while there is currently no cure, most people with IBD achieve good long-term control of their symptoms through medication, dietary support and, where necessary, surgery.