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What are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases? – Video
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Video at a Glance
- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have similar pathophysiologies but involve different tissues and reactions within the tissues.
- Both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis may be caused by either microbes or genetic factors.
- Crohn’s may impact anywhere in the GI tract from the mouth to the rectum.
- Ulcerative colitis typically starts in the rectum and may spread up the descending colon.
- Crohn’s disease most commonly affects the small bowel, though it may affect the colon or both. Very rarely, it affects the esophagus, stomach, and mouth.
- Ulcerative colitis results in severe inflammation but stays on the surface, and it may result in rectal bleeding or anemia.
- Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis commonly present with diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and fever.
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