What is IBD?

IBD encompasses two main diseases, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. However, there are important differences between the two conditions. Crohn's disease can show up in any portion of the digestive tract from the rectum up to the esophagus, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. IBD is a chronic disease that typically causes inflammation and pain in the intestines, but especially the colon. The degree of inflammation varies between individuals but is characterized by intestinal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, pain, weight loss, and sometimes fever. IBD does not remain static over time. People experience flare-ups and then periods of relative calm.