Gastrointestinal diseases can often be confusing, particularly IBS and IBD. Not only do they have similar acronyms, but the diseases seem to have similar symptoms, creating trouble among patients and healthcare practitioners. According to research, about 10% of IBD patients are initially misdiagnosed with IBS.[ https://ueg.eu/a/201 ]
Despite the similarities of symptoms, IBD and IBS are two distinct gastrointestinal disorders. Let’s briefly discuss the difference between IBD and IBS to develop a better understanding.
What is IBD?
IBD is an umbrella term for inflammatory conditions that affect the digestive tract, causing swelling and irritation. The two most commonly occurring inflammatory bowel diseases are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
IBD is a recognized disease, but there is no cure available for it yet. It can be effectively managed with medications and lifestyle changes.
What is IBS?
Unlike IBD, IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is a non-inflammatory condition characterized as a functional gastrointestinal disorder or syndrome. IBS only affects the lower part of the GI tract, which includes the intestines and colon. While the exact cause of IBS is still being investigated, researchers believe that it occurs due to some disturbance in the gut-brain connection. People with IBS may have poorly functioning colon muscles and perhaps unusually active nerves that control these muscles. Researchers are also investigating other potential causes of IBS, such as bacterial overgrowth, stress, and food intolerances.
Symptoms of IBD and IBS
Both these gastrointestinal conditions cause certain similar symptoms, which is the major reason why they are confused. Similar symptoms of IBD and IBS include:
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Altered bowel movements – diarrhea or constipation
However, both conditions also have certain unique symptoms that can help with diagnosis. Symptoms of IBD include:
Black or bloody stools
Fever
Chronic fatigue
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Inflammation of the eyes, joints, or skin
IBS, on the other hand, can cause:
Nausea
Urgent bowel movements
A feeling of incomplete evacuation of bowel
Mucus in the stool
Abdominal swelling
The Difference between IBD and IBS Pain
Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of both IBD and IBS. However, the nature and location of pain may not always be the same.
In irritable bowel syndrome, lower abdominal pain is the most common. However, the nature, location, and intensity of pain can change over time, even within a single day. For example, patients report a decrease in lower abdomen pain after a bowel movement. Similarly, many patients report pain in the upper abdomen getting worse after eating. Regarding the nature of the pain, people report a whole of different types of pain in IBS. These include cramping, aching, and sharp or throbbing pain.
When it comes to inflammatory bowel disease pain, ulcerative colitis usually causes pain in the left side of the belly. In contrast, Crohn’s disease results in pain in the lower right side of the belly.
The Final Word
Both IBD and IBS are chronic conditions that affect the GI tract. However, both are different and require different treatment approaches. This is why the correct diagnosis is essential. Hundreds of thousands of people with these conditions are misdiagnosed every year due to the similarity of their symptoms. While healthcare practitioners are improving their diagnostic methods with the latest developments, it is also important for patients to educate themselves to manage their disease more effectively.
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