Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders that cause chronic (long-term) inflammation of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common IBD conditions. Both diseases appear to run in families and can be influenced by environmental factors such as emotional stress.

Symptoms
Based on your symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. General symptoms for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include:

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

• Rectal bleeding

• Weight loss

• Fever

• Loss of body fluids and nutrients

Treatment
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are similar, so an accurate diagnosis is crucial to developing a comprehensive treatment plan.

Experts at the multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic can diagnose and treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis symptoms. The clinic allows patients to see a gastroenterologist and a surgeon in one visit, if needed. Specialists work together to offer patients the most up-to-date information on the latest diagnosis and treatment methods. Call 859-257-1000 or toll free 1-800-333-8874 for an appointment or view a list of our physicians.

Resources
Crohn’s disease – UK HealthCare health information
Crohn’s disease fact sheet – UK HealthCare
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America – www.ccfa.org
Ulcerative colitis fact sheet – UK HealthCare
Ulcerative colitis – UK HealthCare health information

To make an appointment or find a physician, please call UK HealthCare at 859-257-1000 or toll free 1-800-333-8874.
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Page last updated Monday, March 26, 2007 4:04 PM