What are the inflammatory bowel diseases?
Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation within the rectum (known as “proctitis”) and the colon (“colitis”). The inflammation irritates the inner lining of these areas of bowel, but it does not spread into the muscle layers deeper within the intestinal wall. Crohn’s disease, by contrast, can cause inflammation or complications anywhere from the mouth to the rectum, and the inflammation can injure the full thickness of the intestinal wall. Inflammation from ulcerative colitis can result in diarrhea and in exposed sores (“ulcers”) in the bowel lining. Because inflammation is deeper, Crohn’s disease can cause these problems as well as other complications. For example, Crohn’s disease can cause abscesses (pus pockets), ruptures of the intestine, or an unusual tunnel-like connection (“fistula”) between two areas of bowel. In people with Crohn’s disease, ulcers may occur in any area of the digestive tract, including the mouth or the esophagus, as well as the digestive tract within the abdomen.
