Although inflammatory bowel disease tends to be stated in a singular sense, it often encompasses two diseases afflicting neighborly areas within the same region.
Ulcerative colitis is generally found at the large colon area whereas Crohn's disease insinuates itself at any part of the meandering gastrointestinal tract.
Although these brotherly two are usually paired off to constitute this disease, they are differentiated based on targeted areas of the gut.
Sufferers are also not necessarily subject to one or both at any stage of their lives.
This disease is normally visible from age groups of late teens onwards.
However, this is not to say that young children are spared of this ailment.
Prior history within the family may also bear some influence.
Studies have shown that a higher rate of disease inflicting the larger intestinal tract.
Perhaps the newer trends of living have some hand in the matter as the public is assuming a more sedentary lifestyle with dietary decisions favoring taste and pace over nutrition.
Bacteria build-up in the affected regions causes inflammation of the walls.
As passage ways get narrower, it obviously causes obstruction to matters traveling from one point to the other.
Linings of the walls also experience constant friction.
Sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease may end up cultivating a farm of ulcers in their gut which tends to bleed with continual abuse.
Other symptoms normally show up as presence of blood and mucus in passing of one's motions.
In time, ulcers may deepen and literally cause holes through the intestinal walls.
Fatigue, abdominal pain and weight loss add to the wagon load of experience.
Diagnosis is easily performed by the detection of bacteria present.
Normally, physicians prescribe some form of medication to address the inflammation as well as treat the affected area of the gastrointestinal tract.
Dietary changes also help to reduce further flare-up.
In more severe cases, surgery may be the recommended option.