What it means
Chronic inflammation of the gut caused by the immune system. In ulcerative colitis the inflammation is in the lining of the colon and rectum; in Crohn disease it can be anywhere from mouth to anus and goes through the whole bowel wall in patches. Both come and go in flares, with diarrhea (often bloody), belly pain, weight loss and tiredness. It is a different condition from irritable bowel syndromeIR-ih-tuh-bul BOW-ul SIN-dromeA long-term bowel condition with belly pain and changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or both.Full entry .
For the nurse
During a flare, track the number and type of stools, fluid balance, weight and electrolytes, and watch for dehydration. Teach the client about their medicines and the signs of a flare, and that diet changes may help symptoms.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | IBD |
|---|---|
| Spanish | enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal |
| Also written | IBD, inflammatory-bowel-disease, inflammatory bowel diseases |
Related terms
diarrhea
Loose or watery stools, usually three or more times a day or more often than normal for the person.
exacerbation
A time when a long-term disease suddenly gets worse, or its symptoms flare up.
inflammation
The body's protective response to injury or infection, with redness, heat, swelling, pain and sometimes loss of function.
irritable bowel syndrome
A long-term bowel condition with belly pain and changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or both.