Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the stomach and the intestines. Here are the causes, symptoms, and treatments for IBD and IBS:
Persistent Diarrhea
IBD-associated diarrhea results from widespread mucosal inflammation. The intestinal lining becomes inflamed and fails to absorb all fluid. For IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), the stool becomes watery and loose. Diarrhea symptoms range from increased bowel frequency to chronic diarrhea. To treat diarrhea, your doctor provides antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs to control inflammation.
Abdominal Pain
IBD causes lower abdominal pain that feels like stomach cramps. Abdominal pain occurs as acute or chronic. IBD-related abdominal pain results from constipation, gas, and indigestion. IBS causes abdominal pain through intestinal muscle spasms and oversensitive nerve endings.
Intestinal muscle spasms cause cramping and pain and disrupt food movement through the intestines. Patients with oversensitive nerve endings experience pain when the stomach produces gas. Doctors treat lower abdominal pain through pain relievers like acetaminophen and anti-diarrheal medication.
Fever
A patient with inflammatory bowel disease develops fever as a response to intestinal inflammation. Prolonged fever is caused by cytokines secreted by anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory cells. Cytokines trigger inflammation to kill bacteria and viruses in your digestive tract. With chronic inflammation, immune cells accumulate at the injury site.
An acute IBS attack can cause fever, profuse sweating, and dehydration. The hypothalamus in the brain raises body temperature to stimulate tissue healing. To reduce fever, doctors administer anti-inflammatory medications like sulfasalazine and mesalamine. Immune suppressors, including methotrexate and azathioprine, reduce cell activity on injury sites after healing.
Weight Loss
IBD symptoms like abdominal pain and nausea lower your appetite. Diarrhea associated with IBS makes it difficult for your body to absorb food nutrients. Patients with low appetite eat fewer nutrients and calories needed to maintain weight. Inflammation causes the body to burn existing calories, leading to weight loss. With long-term chronic inflammation, your body demands more protein. The body starts to break down fat-free areas of mass and muscle tissues. Fat breakdown reduces muscle mass, contributing further to weight loss.
Doctors treat weight loss by recommending diets administered through enteral and parenteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition involves injecting nutrients into your vein. With parenteral nutrition, doctors supply nutrients through an IV catheter.
Rectal Bleeding
Straining in the toilet can cause rectal bleeding associated with IBS-C (Constipation). It results in anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and infected intestinal pouches. Irritable bowel syndrome forms ulcers in the colon lining, which may start bleeding. Doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory medications for colitis and Crohn’s disease to reduce bleeding. They may also provide vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron supplements for the lost blood.
Doctors may recommend a blood transfusion for severe blood loss cases. In severe hemorrhaging cases, surgery is performed to remove the colon and create an ileostomy. An ileostomy is connected to the digestive system to divert waste from the body. With ulcerative colitis, doctors perform additional surgery to create a J-pouch. The J-pouch attaches to the rectum and the small intestines.
Learn More About IBS and IBD Treatments
Doctors provide treatments to relieve pain and nourish your body. They perform surgeries in cases where medications fail to reduce your symptoms. These conditions are not life-threatening but can develop serious complications. Contact a reputable gastroenterologist to learn more about their IBD and IBS treatments.
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