IBD, The Symptoms, Treatment Options & Patient Impact

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)

IBD is caused by overactivity of the immune system, resulting in it attacking its own body cells by mistake.

This is known as AUTOIMMUNITY.

There are two main types of IBD: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD)

IBD Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn’s Disease

The exact cause of IBD is unknown, but IBD is the result of an altered immune response.

Possible causes are:

ï Genetics: you are more likely to get IBD if you have a close relative with the condition ï A problem with your immune system triggered by a past infection

Usually IBD is diagnosed in people in their late teens or early 20s, but it can appear at any age.