Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to disorders of the intestinal tract characterized primarily by inflammation. The two main types of IBDs are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.¹ Both are similar in that they involve an over-active immune response to intestinal bacteria, resulting in the pathologic inflammatory response. Basically, your body produces the inflammation throughout your digestive tract in response to the bacteria that is naturally there! Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis differ in the site and character of inflammation within the GI tract. The exact cause of each type of IBD is unknown, but genetics and environment are thought to play roles along with the dysregulation of the body’s innate immune response.²

References:

1.  Crohn’s Disease. Accessed October 19, 2016.

2.  Crohn’s Disease is an Immune Disorder: A Patient Guide. Accessed October 19, 2016.