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GI Tract in Disease_Large Intestine_IBD_IBS

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The document provides an overview of major diseases of the large intestine, focusing on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).<br /><br />IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but commonly involves the ileum and colon. It is characterized by transmural inflammation, which can lead to complications such as stenosis, fistulas, and perianal disease. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss. Diagnosis is made using a combination of clinical, imaging, endoscopic, and pathology findings. Treatment aims to improve quality of life, achieve and maintain remission, and possibly histologic healing. Management may include surgery, antibiotics, aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics, and newer small-molecule therapies.<br /><br />Ulcerative colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease limited to the colon, always involving the rectum and spreading continuously. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, mucus or pus in stool, abdominal pain, anemia, weight loss, fever, and tenesmus. Colonoscopy typically shows ulcerations, pseudopolyps, and a red, friable mucosa. Treatment depends on severity and may include topical and oral aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics, cyclosporine, or surgery. A serious complication is toxic megacolon, which may require urgent surgery.<br /><br />Microscopic colitis is another inflammatory colon condition causing chronic watery diarrhea with a normal colonoscopy but abnormal biopsy findings. It includes collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. Treatment options include anti-diarrheals, budesonide, corticosteroids, and sometimes biologics.<br /><br />IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder marked by chronic abdominal pain or discomfort with altered bowel habits. It is common, affecting about 1 in 7 Americans, and is more frequent in women. Subtypes include IBS-D, IBS-C, and IBS-M. Diagnosis is clinical using Rome IV criteria, with attention to alarm symptoms such as weight loss, anemia, bleeding, or older age. Treatment focuses on lifestyle changes, symptom-based medications, and psychological or stress-management approaches.

Keywords

Inflammatory bowel disease

Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative colitis

Irritable bowel syndrome

Microscopic colitis

Chronic diarrhea

Colon inflammation

Biologic therapy

Toxic megacolon

Rome IV criteria