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IBD (Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn's)

Inflammatory bowel disease — diagnosis, long-term care, and modern therapies.

Overview

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) covers two main conditions — ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. Both cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and bleeding, but they differ in where and how they affect the gut. IBD is rising in India. With early diagnosis and modern treatment, most patients live full active lives — but care is long-term and needs specialist follow-up.

Common symptoms

  • Persistent diarrhoea, often with blood and mucus (especially in UC)
  • Abdominal pain or cramping, sometimes severe
  • Unintentional weight loss and fatigue
  • Urgency to pass stool, or feeling of incomplete emptying
  • Joint pain, skin rashes, or eye problems in some patients
  • Perianal pain, fistula, or recurring abscesses (in Crohn's)

When to see a doctor

See us if diarrhoea has lasted more than 4 weeks, especially with blood, weight loss, or pain. Family history of IBD, or onset of bowel symptoms in someone under 40, increases the case for prompt evaluation. Severe abdominal pain with fever, profuse bleeding, or signs of obstruction need urgent care.

How we help

Diagnosis is made with colonoscopy and biopsies — the gold standard for distinguishing UC from Crohn's and excluding mimics like intestinal TB. We assess severity with blood tests, faecal calprotectin, and imaging where needed. Treatment is tailored to the type and severity: aminosalicylates (5-ASA) for mild UC; immunomodulators and modern biologics or small-molecule therapies (anti-TNF, anti-integrin, JAK inhibitors) for moderate-to-severe disease. Ongoing follow-up monitors disease activity, medication response, and screens for complications.

This is general information, not a substitute for medical advice. For guidance specific to your case, please consult Dr. Ch. Saikumar or another qualified specialist.

Patient questions

IBD (Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn's) — common questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often about ibd (ulcerative colitis & crohn's).

What's the difference between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease?
UC affects only the colon, inflammation is continuous along the bowel, and bleeding is common. Crohn's can affect any part of the digestive tract, inflammation is patchy, and it can cause fistulas and strictures. Treatment overlaps but differs in important details.
Is IBD curable?
Not currently — IBD is a lifelong condition. But modern treatments achieve and maintain remission for most patients, and many live full active lives with minimal day-to-day impact. Surgery can effectively cure UC in selected cases.
Are biologics (anti-TNF, anti-integrin) safe?
Well-studied and safe for the majority of patients. Risks include increased susceptibility to certain infections and rare reactions; we screen for tuberculosis and hepatitis B before starting and monitor regularly during treatment.
Can diet alone manage IBD?
Diet helps symptoms but doesn't replace medication in active IBD. Specific approaches — exclusive enteral nutrition, Mediterranean-style diets — have evidence for some patients. We tailor diet advice alongside medical treatment, not instead of it.
Does IBD raise cancer risk?
Yes — long-standing UC or Crohn's colitis increases colon cancer risk. We schedule surveillance colonoscopy starting around 8 years after diagnosis to catch any changes early.
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