Inflammatory bowel disease (ibd): drugs, causes, etc.

Definition

What is that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that refers to two diseases, namely Crohn's disease and colitis. Both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

IBD is an autoimmune disease. This means that people with IBD have an immune system that attacks their own bodies and occurs in the digestive tract. As with other autoimmune diseases, the main cause of inflammation of the intestine is not certain.

Both Crohn's and ulcerative colitis have significant differences. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine, whereas Crohn's disease can affect the entire digestive system.

The symptoms caused by these two diseases are almost the same, such as diarrhea, bloody stools, and weight loss. If one of these types of IBD is left alone, the symptoms will get worse and can endanger the life of the sufferer.

How common is this condition?

Inflammation of the intestine is a disease that can affect anyone. This inflammatory bowel disease can produce as many as 396 cases per 100,000 people / year globally.

Meanwhile, the case inflammatory bowel disease in Indonesia it is still hard to find. Generally, cases of ulcerative colitis are more common than Crohn's disease.

IBD sufferers do not recover completely. However, you can reduce your risk by avoiding factors related to intestinal inflammation. Talk to your doctor regarding IBD to find the right solution.

Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of colitis?

The symptoms of IBD or inflammation of the intestines will vary from person to person, depending on the severity and the organs that are inflamed. Symptoms of intestinal inflammation vary, ranging from mild to severe.

Generally, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by:

diarrhea,
fatigue,
stomach cramps and pain,
Bloody stools,
decreased appetite, and
weight loss suddenly.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience severe diarrhea or change in frequency of bowel movements continuously, consult a doctor immediately. This also applies when you feel one or more symptoms of colitis.

Although it does not trigger severe symptoms, IBD can cause serious complications if not treated properly.

Cause

What causes intestinal inflammation?

As with other autoimmune diseases, the cause of colitis is not known with certainty. IBD is a condition when your immune system breaks down.

Normally, the immune system will attack foreign substances that enter the body as a protective measure, such as viruses and bacteria.

On the case inflammatory bowel disease, the immune system mistakenly recognizes substances that enter the body. As a result, inflammation of the digestive tract occurs.

Several cases suggest a possible genetic factor that is more likely to develop this inappropriate immune response. However, further research is still needed to know exactly what causes IBD.

Risk Factors

What factors increase my risk for IBD?

Inflammation of the intestine can happen to anyone. However, a number of factors below are believed to increase a person's risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

Age

Inflammation of the intestine can occur at any age. However, most cases indicate that this inflammatory bowel disease occurs in patients under 30-35 years of age.

Smoke

Smokers are more at risk inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn's disease. Although smoking is believed to help prevent colitis, the dangers of cigarette toxins have an adverse effect on the digestive system. That's why quitting smoking is good for digestive health and provides other benefits.

Race / ethnicity

Inflammation of the intestine can indeed be experienced by any racial population. However, the Caucasian ethnic group is more at risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.

Family history

You will be more at risk if you have parents, siblings, or people who have this disease.

Use of NSAID drugs

The use of drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and other NSAIDs can increase the risk of developing intestinal inflammation. These drugs can also make IBD sufferers worse.

Complications

What are the complications of colitis?

Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can cause the same complications. Here are a number of complications that arise if inflammatory bowel disease is not treated properly.

Colon cancer

People who have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis have poor bowel health which can increase their risk of colon cancer. That's why you need to be screened for cancer about eight to 10 years after an IBD diagnosis is made.

Inflammation of the joints, skin and eyes

Inflammation of the joints, skin problems, and eyes such as arthritis, lesions, and eye inflammation can occur when you have colitis.

Drug side effects

Certain drugs to treat IBD are often associated with a risk of certain diseases. For example, corticosteroid use can increase the risk of osteoporosis and high blood pressure.

Primary sclerotic cholangitis

Inflammation of the intestines can cause scarring of the bile ducts. As a result, the bile duct narrows and can cause liver damage.

Blood clots

People with IBD are also at risk for developing blood clots in the veins and arteries.

Diagnosis and Treatment

How to diagnose colitis?

After undergoing a physical examination and being asked about symptoms and family medical history, the doctor will ask you to take additional examinations, namely:

blood tests to detect anemia or bacterial and viral infections,
stool examination,
colonoscopy,
sigmoidoscopy,
enteroscopy,
upper endoscopy, and
imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.

How to treat colitis?

Inflammation of the intestine cannot be cured. Therefore, the doctor will provide treatment to reduce symptoms due to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It aims to reduce inflammation and damage to the intestines.

Here are a number of treatments that doctors use to treat the symptoms that arise from IBD.

Drugs

One way to treat the symptoms experienced by people with colitis is to use drugs. This drug therapy also varies depending on how severe your condition is and the type inflammatory bowel disease.

There are also IBD drug therapy options including:

anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids and amino salicylates,
drugs that suppress the immune system, namely azathioprine and methotrexate,
biological medicine, such as infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab,
antibiotics, namely ciprofloxacin and metronidazole,
anti-diarrhea medication, such as methylcellulose and loperamide, as well
pain relievers, namely acetaminophen.

Additional nutrition

One of the symptoms of colitis is a loss of appetite which can make you lose weight dramatically. This condition can certainly affect the body's nutritional needs which can have an impact on the overall health of the body.

If this happens, the doctor may recommend a special diet that is given through a feeding tube or nutrients that are injected into a vein. It aims to improve nutrition and help the intestines rest in order to reduce inflammation in the short term.

If you have a narrowed intestine (stenosis), your doctor will also recommend a low-residue diet. A low-residue diet helps reduce undigested food that can get stuck in parts of the intestines that can cause blockages.

Operation

If drug therapy and a special diet don't work, the last option for treating inflammation of the intestine is surgery.

Patients with ulcerative colitis may have to undergo surgery in which the entire colon and rectum are removed.

Meanwhile, Crohn's disease surgery causes the damaged part of your digestive tract to be removed. After that, the healthy part was reconnected. Crohn's sufferers need at least one operation in their lifetime to relieve symptoms.

Always discuss with your doctor about inflammatory bowel treatments that are suitable for your condition.

Home Remedies

What are some home remedies that can be done to treat colitis?

In addition to undergoing treatment from a doctor, changing your lifestyle to be healthier is also beneficial for intestinal health. So, what needs to be changed in order to live a healthy life when experiencing IBD?

Dietary habit

Until now there has been no research that really proves what causes inflammatory bowel disease. However, certain foods and drinks can make your symptoms worse.

There are a number of tips for eating a diet for people with colitis that can be followed, including:

limit or avoid milk and dairy products,
eat small portions but more often,
drinking more fluids, especially water,
consider vitamin supplements, and
consult a dietitian or nutritionist.

Quit smoking

Smoking can increase your risk of developing colitis, especially Crohn's disease. If you have had the disease and are still smoking, the symptoms may be more severe and require repeated medications and surgeries.

By quitting smoking, you also reduce the risk of more intestinal damage and provide other health benefits.

Manage stress

Stress, especially when experiencing a disease, can certainly lower the immune system and put you at risk of worsening inflammatory bowel symptoms. You can manage stress during IBD in ways such as:

regular light exercise to improve bowel function,
relaxation and breathing exercises to calm down, and
live a hobby that you love.

What about alternative treatments for IBD?

Some people with indigestion, including colitis, may try alternative medications and treatments. Even so, a number of herbal medicines used may require further research.

Probiotics

Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, you can add more good bacteria such as probiotics to help fight IBD. Although the studies are quite limited, there are some reports that suggest using probiotics with other drugs can be helpful.

Even so, further research is needed to see the effectiveness and safety and this alternative medicine.

If you have further questions, please contact your doctor to get the right solution.