subject: Ulcerative Colitis vs. Crohn's Disease [print this page] Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a condition in which the tissues of the digestive system become inflamed in a way that is very difficult to treat and prevent. IBD describes several different conditions that can all result in debilitating gastrointestinal problems, and two especially painful types of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
First, doctors are not positive about the exact cause of either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. They believe that the immune system may play a role, perhaps suffering an autoimmune failure that causes the immune system to attack the intestines rather than an actual pathogen. Additionally, some people are more prone to these disorders, which leads doctors to also speculate that they could have a genetic link.
Next, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease differ in that they attack different areas of your intestines. Ulcerative colitis is primarily located in the large intestine, where it occurs in one continuous portion of your color and rectum. The inflammation typically also occurs shallowly. On the other hand, Crohn's disease can occur in patches throughout your intestines, whether small or large. Additionally, the affected tissue is usually deeper than that of ulcerative colitis, which can lead to serious problems such as fistulas.
Lastly, the outlook for both inflammatory bowel diseases is different. Although both can be debilitating if left untreated, ulcerative colitis is normally handled better than Crohn's. In fact, although ulcerative colitis is incurable, people with this disorder can actually go into long-term remission if treated correctly. Contrastingly, it is very difficult to send a Crohn's patient into remission. 3 out of 4 Crohn's sufferers require surgery at some point in their lives in order to remove a completely damaged portion of the intestines.
Interestingly, both of these diseases have also been linked to Accutane. If you believe that you now have an inflammatory bowel disorder after taking this acne medication, you should contact an Accutane lawsuit attorney from Williams Kherkher today.
