This article was written by Aslam Syed, MD and submitted to Knox Pages for publishing.
Inflammatory bowel disease essentially makes up the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. They are typically diagnosed via colonoscopy with biopsies, and are on occasion lined to autoimmune disease. They are pathological changes of the colon and/or small bowel causing inflammation, diarrhea, and sometimes even bloody diarrhea.
The treatment options vary on the severity of the disease, ranging from oral medications to biological/injectable medications. IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is typically a diagnosis of exclusion. Meaning, if no specific findings are seen via colonoscopy, biopsies are normal, serum markers are normal, we consider IBS as a diagnosis in patients meeting the criteria of abdominal pain, and change in bowel habits, either constipation or diarrhea (this is called the Rove IV Criteria).
The mainstay management for IBS is typically conservative, with over-the-counter remedies ranging from anti diarrheal, or bowel regimes, tailored to improve quality of life. IBS is a complex diagnosis, without a true cause, but can be triggered by stress, anxiety, abnormal gut flora, nutrition imbalances, and other numerous factors.
Both diagnoses can be complex, and typically require the expertise of a GI physician to help diagnose, and manage.
