The widespread health issues include less understood irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD. While both diseases have some overlapping symptoms, such as pain in the abdominal region and changes in bowel movements, the pathology, causative factors, and treatments for these diseases differ immensely. This blog helps differentiate IBS and IBD based on the symptoms they manifest, the causes, and the treatments adopted. It will also discuss the steps to take if you have either of these conditions.
What is IBS and IBD: An Introduction
IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, meaning that although the digestive system appears to be in normal structure, it is not functioning normally. It primarily affects the colon or large intestine, resulting in discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, and cramping. Although IBS does not cause irreversible intestinal damage, it does have an impact on one's quality of life.
IBD is the term given to the group of inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract. The two most common IBDs are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IBD causes chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to damage complications and even surgery in the worst cases. Furthermore, IBD is a much more serious condition and may permanently damage the intestines, unlike IBS.
Knowing the difference between IBS and IBD can be crucial for them to be diagnosed and treated properly.
Symptoms of IBS
Symptoms greatly vary among patients but can be found in:
- Abdominal Pain or Cramping: usually relieved after a bowel movement; most often, it is in the lower abdomen.
- Bloating: The feeling of fullness or swelling within the abdomen.
- Diarrhoea or Constipation: Some patients will experience IBS with diarrhoea, known as IBS-D. Others experience the type of IBS-C, where constipation predominates. Alternating episodes of both occur in some cases.
- Gas: There may be excessive gas and flatulence.
- Mucus in Stool: Some patients with IBS may note mucus in their stool, signifying irritation in the intestines.
In most cases, they are cyclical and can be caused by food, stress, or hormonal changes.
Causes of IBS
The cause of IBS is not known but several factors have been identified that occur to develop IBS:
- Gut-Brain Interaction: The gut is associated with the brain. Failure of this communication is responsible for various abnormal functions of the digestive system.
- Food Allergies: Some individuals suffer from IBS due to an allergy to food items, like dairy, gluten, and fatty food.
- Stress: Psychological stress exacerbates the symptoms of IBS. Stress forms part of any IBS management process also.
- Gut Flora Imbalance: Studies indicate that disturbances in intestinal bacteria could indicate the beginning of IBS.
Treatment for IBS
There is no proper cure for IBS, but changes in lifestyle and diet, as well as drug and stress management, do relieve the condition:
- Dietary Adjustments: Many have noted improvement in symptoms through the intake of the low FODMAP diet, which includes certain carbohydrates that ferment.
- Medication: Based on the presentation, a doctor may need to prescribe antispasmodics, laxatives, or even anti-diarrhoea medication.
- Probiotics: In some patients, probiotics may be needed to reconstitute normal gastrointestinal microbiota.
- Stress Management: Mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be useful when the IBS is stress related.
Symptoms of IBD
IBD symptoms are more severe and involve the whole intestinal tract:
- Chronic diarrhoea: Typically, bloody with mucus, an important feature of IBD.
- Abdominal Pain and Cramping: It is usually more disabling than in IBS and is typically confined to specific portions of the abdomen.
- Weight Loss: The body cannot absorb nutrients completely, which leads to weight loss for unintentional reasons.
- Fatigue: It can become chronic due to inflammation, malnutrition, or drug reactions.
- Fever: Low-grade fever is common during the flare-up of IBD.
Extraintestinal manifestations of IBD include joint pain, skin rashes, as well as inflammation of the eye, apart from its gastrointestinal symptoms.
Causes of IBD
While the exact cause is unidentified, it is most likely multifactorial with elements of genetics, environment, and immunity.
- Genetics: Most patients of IBD have family histories of IBD.
- Immune System Dysfunction: IBD is perceived to result from an exaggerated and dysfunctional immune response that malfunctions in its self-attack on the digestive system.
- Environmental Triggers: Smoking, diet, environmental pollution, and stress are believed to trigger the onset of IBD or aggravate its symptoms.
Treatment for IBD
The primary objectives of IBD treatment are to repress inflammation and prevent symptoms and conditions:
- Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Corticosteroids and salicylates, such as amino salicylates, decrease inflammation within the digestive tract.
- Immunosuppressants: These medications dampen the immune system's response, so it does not attack the intestines.
- Biologics: These are advanced treatments targeting proteins involved in the inflammatory process.
- Surgery: In extreme circumstances, surgery would be performed to remove the damaged portions of the intestine or colon.
- Dietary Modifications: Although no diet can be employed to treat IBD, a selected diet with a nutrient-rich diet has a good impact on managing symptoms and improving well-being.
Differences Between IBS and IBD
While the symptoms are similar, IBS and IBD are fundamentally different conditions.
- Nature of the Condition: IBS is a functional disorder; IBD is an inflammatory disease.
- Severity: IBS does not result in damaging the intangible lining of the intestines; IBD can indeed lead to severe complications such as scarring, strictures, or even bowel obstruction.
- Symptoms: The symptoms of IBS often tend to be milder and more along the lines of changes in bowel habits, as compared to IBD, whose symptoms are chronic diarrhoea, bloody stools, and more severe abdomen pain.
- Diagnosis: The diagnosis for IBS is based on symptoms and exclusion of other medical conditions. In contrast, endoscopic tests, imaging studies, and a biopsy are sometimes needed for IBD diagnosis.
- Treatment: IBS treatment is one of managing symptoms through diet and lifestyle adjustments, while IBD needs some medication to lower the inflammation and sometimes surgery.
What to Do If You Think You Have IBS or IBD
If you have recurring digestion symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or bowel alterations, consult your doctor. Follow these steps:
- Track Your Symptoms: Keep a symptom log about what kind of pain is happening, what the bowels are accustomed to, and what provokes them—whether it is food, stress, or something else.
- Consult a doctor: A doctor can know if you have IBS, IBD, or another diagnosis for a digestive disorder. They might administer several tests, including blood work, stool tests, or colonoscopy.
- Follow a Treatment Plan: After receiving a diagnosis, take your doctor's recommended course of action. For IBS, it encompasses diet changes and stress management. However, IBD patients may often need medication or surgery if the condition becomes severe.
- Stay Informed: Educate yourself as much as possible about your disease. Take charge of your illness. Following up with your doctor is advisable to keep the symptoms under control.
Conclusion
Although IBS and IBD share some characteristics, there is a big difference between these two diseases, which require different treatments. It helps to know the difference between functional disorder IBS and inflammatory disease IBD so that proper management can be done. If you have been having issues with your digestive system, consider consulting a doctor so that an appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be administered as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment will improve the quality of life and avoid various complications from the involved diseases.
FAQs
- How do I know if I have IBD or IBS?
IBD is a disease characterized by inflammatory conditions related to chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The symptoms are severe—deathly, occasionally, with bloody diarrhoea, weight loss, and fever. IBS is regarded as a functional disease. The symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. A proper diagnosis can be achieved through endoscopy or stool analysis by a doctor.
- Can IBS turn into an IBD?
No, IBS cannot be converted to IBD. They are two different disorders; IBS is a functional disorder with no inflammation, whereas IBD is the chronic inflammation inside the digestive tract. However, some symptoms of IBS and IBD may overlap; hence, a proper diagnosis becomes very significant.
- What does IBD pain feel like?
The pain caused by IBD is severe and crampy and tends to arise in the lower abdomen or over specific sites of the intestines. In some cases, bloody diarrhoea may be added to fatigue or fever. Sometimes, the pain during flare-ups is worse, and medical care may be necessary to treat inflammation.
- Can a stool test differentiate between IBS and IBD?
Indeed, the stool test can be of much help in distinguishing between IBS and IBD. IBD normally comes with inflammatory markers in high ranges, which may include calprotectin levels due to inflammation within the intestines. An IBS diagnosis usually presents normal results from a stool test and does not have inflammation within it.
- What are the warning signs of IBD?
Signs of IBD may include diarrhoea for more than two weeks, with many featuring blood or mucus. Pain in the abdomen can also occur, along with weight loss fatigue and fever. Others may include joint pain, skin conditions, and eye inflammation. A visit to a doctor is indicated in such cases for proper diagnosis.