What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder1 that involves long-lasting inflammation of the digestive tract.2
When your healthcare professional talks about IBD, they are usually referring to chronic (long-term or life-long) conditions such as Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).3
What causes IBD?
Although the exact cause of both UC and CD is still unclear, it is known that it involves a complex interaction between four factors:4,5
Genetics
(family history)
The environment
(e.g. diet, smoking, infection or antibiotic use)
The immune system
Bacteria in the gut
What are the two types of IBD?
Although IBD can develop at any age, there is a first peak onset of IBD during late adolescence or young adulthood 6 and a second peak at ages over 60 years old.7 IBD in the elderly is generally more difficult to diagnose resulting in up to six years’ delay due to other diseases with similar symptoms or treatment effects.7
There are two main types of IBD:4
Crohn’s disease (CD) can occur anywhere in the GI tract between the mouth and anus. Find out more about this condition at the link below.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a condition that only affects the large intestine. Find out more about this condition at the link below.
