FAQs

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) offers a wealth of information, resources and support for patients with IBD. The CCFA is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They provide funding for studies at major medical institutions, including JRC, and help to finance underdeveloped areas of research. The organization also manages an online community for IBD patients, including patient discussion boards and personal stories from patients living with IBD. The CCFA website provides comprehensive information about the types, prevalence, causes and symptoms of IBD, as well as information about treatment options.

IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves all or part of the digestive tract. There are different types of IBD, defined by where the inflammation occurs. The two most common types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In both of these types, chronic inflammation of the digestive tract leads to the destruction of gastrointestinal tissue and a variety of serious systems.

Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation in Crohn's disease typically involves the ileum, but may occur in any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. The inflammation of the affected areas can be patchy in nature, and often penetrates deeply into the tissues. Surgery may be required to remove inflamed tissues affected by Crohn's disease. However, surgery does not cure Crohn's disease, and the disease may recur after surgery.

Ulcerative colitis also causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike Crohn’s disease, the inflammation in ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine (colon) and rectum. The inflammation is usually continuous, instead of patchy as it is in Crohn’s disease, and more superficial. Ulcerative colitis can be completely cured by surgical removal of the colon and rectum.

The symptoms of IBD range from mild to severe, and vary depending on the severity of inflammation and where it occurs. Additionally, symptoms can appear and retreat, as the underlying inflammation cycles between periods of activation and remission.

Some of the most common symptoms of IBD include:

• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Blood in the stool
• Changes in appetite
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

IBS is classified as a “functional disorder” because the symptoms of IBS are not known to have a physical, identifiable cause, such as the inflammation that occurs in IBD. Some of the symptoms of IBS are the same as those for IBD — e.g., abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss — but individuals with IBS do not show identifiable signs of gastrointestinal inflammation. Both IBS and IBD can be associated with severe symptoms, but unlike IBS, the symptoms associated with IBD can become life threatening.

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that IBD affects up to 1.3 million people in the United States.

The exact cause of IBD is not known. Researchers believe that the immune system may play a role in the development of IBD. The immune system may become dysregulated in response to a bacterial or viral infection, resulting in an abnormal response that causes immune cells to attack the body’s own normal digestive cells.

Researchers also suspect that there is a genetic component connected to IBD. Some individuals with IBD have family members who are also affected. Additionally, IBD is more common in Americans with Jewish ancestry. However, a specific gene that confers susceptibility to IBD has not yet been identified. Environmental factors may play a role, but no specific causes have been identified. Diet and stress can exacerbate symptoms of IBD, but neither causes the disease.

Doctors monitor patients with IBD closely to determine the severity and extent of inflammation, and the activation or remission of symptoms. The primary goal of treatment is to reduce and prevent inflammation.

Depending on a patient’s type of IBD and symptoms, as well as how they react to therapies, treatment may include one or more of the following:

• Mesalamine
• Corticosteroids
• Immune suppressants
• Antibiotics
• Surgery may be indicated for some patients with IBD. 
• Nutritional supplements - such as iron, calcium, vitamin B-12, and vitamin D - may be indicated for some patients with IBD

The goal of treatment for patients with IBD is to reduce the inflammation that causes damage to the digestive tract. Gastroenterologists at JRC develop comprehensive and personalized care plans, tailored to each patient’s individual symptoms and conditions. Although IBD can cause serious symptoms, with care and support from the dedicated team at JRC, patients can lead a healthy lifestyle with minimal symptoms.