What Are the Different Types of IBD?
The two most common types of IBD are called Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (say: ul-sur-uh-tiv keh-lye-tis). Crohn’s disease most often develops where the small and large intestines meet and usually causes all layers of the intestinal wall to become sore, inflamed, and swollen. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and anus. Unlike Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis inflames only the inner lining of all or part of the colon and rectum. Sometimes, only the rectum is affected. In both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, inflammation may stick around for many years, flaring up over and over again.
