Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of conditions characterized by irritation and swelling of the bowel, which interferes with the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common IBDs. Along with Celiac disease, they may be linked to hereditary. Symptoms of IBD may include inflammation, pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and weight loss, sometimes accompanied by skin rash, fever, bleeding, anxiety and fatigue.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) affects the lining of the large intestine, or colon. It is characterized by tiny ulcers, or sores, that swell, bleed and exude pus. Rarely, ulcers can perforate the bowel, causing life-threatening infection. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, UC and other inflammatory bowel diseases run in families and are thought to be caused by an abnormal immune response to normal bacteria. In UC, inflammation in the colon prevents the absorption of fluids, which results in watery diarrhea. There may be normal absorption of nutrients in other parts of the digestive tract.
Chron's Disease
Chron's disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause swelling and inflammation in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, most often affecting the illeum, located at the lower segment of the small intestine. The inflammation in Chron's involves deep layers of the intestinal wall, which thicken and scar, causing blockages or fistulas that may need to be treated surgically. People with Chron's disease have a high risk for anemia and protein and vitamin deficiencies. Chronic inflammation causes ulceration, pain and watery diarrhea. Poor appetite leads to weight loss. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Chron's disease is thought to be caused by an abnormal immune response, possibly to normal bacteria or certain foods. It is genetically linked to other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Celiac Disease
In Celiac disease, the body has an abnormal immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. The villi, nutrient-absorbing finger-like projections that line the small intestine, are destroyed when even a tiny amount of gluten is ingested. Celiac disease may begin in childhood or develop over many years. According to Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) in Chicago, as many as 1 in 133 Americans have gluten intolerance or Celiac disease, and many go undiagnosed. Celiacs must follow a lifelong strict gluten-free diet to allow the intestines to heal completely. Although it is not one of the group of conditions known as IBD, the symptoms of Celiac are very similar to ulcerative colitis and Chron's disease.
The genes responsible for Celiac disease are found mostly in Northern European ethnicities and in people who have other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease and microscopic colitis. Microscopic colitis, an IBD that must be diagnosed by microscopic analysis of colon tissue, has a strong association with Celiac disease.
