Inflammatory bowel diseases affect about 10 in every 100,000 people. It is actually one of the most common diseases in the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory bowel syndrome has two types, one is the ulcerative colitis and the other is the Crohn’s disease. Although both will make people feel discomfort, each differs in the area of inflammation.

It may seem an ordinary case of diarrhea but it’s not. Its symptoms can be hard to cope with. Here are some of the inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.

Inflammatory bowel disease symptom 1: Diarrhea

This is the most common sign of inflammatory bowel disease and is manifested by either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Inflammatory bowel disease is a relapsing, autoimmune disease which means that the white blood cells produced due to the stimulation of cytokines turn against the body’s own cells. This results to the inflammation of the lining of the intestine.

In more complicated cases, small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) occurs. SIBO occurs when the ileocecal valve between the large intestine and the small intestine is removed due to the severity of the inflammation. Due to the absence of the valve, bacteria, which thrive in the large intestine, go to the small intestine.

One of the effects of the presence of the bacteria in the small intestine is the alteration of the bile salts, which transports the fat. Fat is then malabsorbed resulting to diarrhea. SIBO is observed in patients with Crohn’s disease and not in ulcerative colitis since it is the small intestine that is involved.

Inflammatory bowel disease symptom 2: Bleeding

Bleeding is another complication of the disease. Blood that comes out with the stool and is usually color red is a symptom of ulcerative colitis while blood that is usually color black and comes out sporadically and acutely is a symptom of Crohn’s disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease symptom 3: Bloating, nausea, vomiting

These are still complications that arise from the presence of strictures. The obstruction of the contents in the bowel increases the pressure. The bowel then inflames more severely until it dilates and can no longer contract. Without proper contraction, the intestinal gas can no longer move through the colon.

Another cause is the occurrence of SIBO. Increased bacteria in the small intestine means increased rate of consumption of the food content in it. This increases the hydrogen gas inside the small intestine, which is a by-product.

Inflammatory bowel disease symptom 4: Weight loss, malnutrition, anemia

Since the small intestine is inflamed, it cannot properly absorb nutrients from the food. Usually in Crohn’s disease, the ileum (lower part of the small intestine) is affected. Vitamin B12 then cannot be properly absorbed by the body, which leads to pernicious anemia.

Inflammatory bowel disease symptom 5: Presence of fistula and fissures

Fistulas and fissures are more common in Crohn’s disease than in ulcerative colitis. Fistulas occur when inflammation may become so severe that it also ruptures other passageways that connect the intestine to the skin or to other organs.

This may lead to abdominal pain, external drainage or bypass. The bypass creates a new passageway for the intestinal contents. Fistulas may also open and close sporadically and unevenly. In such cases, abscess and pus may accumulate. On the other hand, fissures are also ruptures but are only concentrated on the lining of the anus.

Both fistulas and fissures require medication and sometimes surgery.

Anyone experiencing any of the inflammatory bowel disease symptoms listed above should see physician right away. In most cases, early detection leads to a complete cure.

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