Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the name for certain conditions that cause your intestines (gut) to become inflamed, red and swollen. The 2 main types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic (long-term) conditions. There's also a rare form of IBD called microscopic colitis. 

IBD is mainly diagnosed in young adults (15 to 30 years of age), but it can start at any age. It can run in families. Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world.

Note: IBD is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is sometimes called irritable bowel disease. IBS doesn't involve inflammation of the gut but has symptoms including abdominal cramping, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. IBS is more common than IBD and is treated with lifestyle changes. 

Ulcerative colitis only affects the large intestine (large bowel or colon). Crohn’s disease can affect any part of your digestive system from the mouth to the anus (nono or bum). 

The image below shows a normal colon as well as examples of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Image credit: Depositphotos

There are some IBD symptoms that are common to both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and some are different

Ulcerative colitis symptoms include:

• diarrhoea (runny poos)
• urgent need to pass poos
• blood or mucus in your stools (poo)
• abdominal (tummy) pain and discomfort
• tiredness or fatigue. 

Crohn's disease symptoms include:

• abdominal (tummy) pain
• diarrhoea (runny poos)
• urgent need to pass poos
• nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick)
• fever
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• tiredness or fatigue
• slow growth in children
• lesions or pain around your bottom. 

Contact your healthcare provider if you or your child have any of these symptoms.

Video: What are Crohn's and colitis?

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(Crohn's & Colitis UK, 2018)

Video: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

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(Health Knowledge Works & Mercury Films Inc, 2013)