Inflammatory bowel disease

The difference between the two is that the inflammation associated with Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in your digestive tract, often spreading deep into the layers of affected tissues. Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, usually affects only the innermost lining of your colon and rectum. IBD can start at any age, although there are peaks between the ages of 15 and 30 and around 50-60. Ulcerative colitis has also been found in babies, although Crohn's disease is rare under the age of five.

What causes IBD?
Despite a great deal of research, the cause of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is unknown. Some researchers believe IBD may be due to a flaw in the body's immune system, while others believe that certain bacteria or viruses cause the body to attack its own intestinal tissues. Scientists do know, however, that IBD is not triggered by diet and it is not contagious. Relatives of people with IBD have a slightly greater risk of developing either disease.

Symptoms
These can vary from person to person, and time to time, but may include:

• diarrhea
• bleeding from the bowel
• mucus in stools or pale, bulky "floating" stools
• abdominal pain and discomfort
• tiredness
• fever
• loss of appetite and possibly weight loss
• nausea and/or vomiting
• mouth ulcers
• loss of appetite
• occasionally, swollen joints, inflamed eyes and skin rashes.

What your doctor can do
As similar symptoms can occur with other conditions, your doctor will arrange for some tests. Painkillers and anti-diarrhoea compounds can ease symptoms while medication is needed to treat the inflammation. What your doctor prescribes depends largely on the condition, its location and its severity. In some cases, surgery may be required. Although IBD tends to be life-long, many people experience symptom-free spells, known as periods of remission.

How you can manage IBD
Lifestyle changes, good nutrition and stress management can assist with the healing process and help your body's response to medication.

• Diet
  Diarrhoea and absorption problems can prevent your body accessing available nutrients, so a healthy balanced diet is vital. Some people, however, find that when IBD is active, they need a bland, low-fibre diet to reduce stimulation of the muscles in the bowels and ease symptoms. Trial and error will show what suits you best.

  Exclusion or elimination diets may occasionally be useful since a few people can also have sensitivities to certain natural or added food chemicals which make symptoms worse. Cutting out alcohol and caffeine will help to reduce irritation, while maintaining a high fluid intake is essential, especially if diarrhoea is present.

• Exercise
  When the disease is active, you may not be able to do much. But, in symptom-free periods, keeping fit will help healing and stress reduction.

• Stress
  IBD is not a result of stress, although stress can make your symptoms worse — the stress of having the condition, side effects of treatment or complications of the disease, can all have an effect, creating a vicious cycle. Your body has more chance of healing if you are less tense.