Common symptoms
- Bloody diarrhoea or mucus in stool
- Urgency and frequent motions
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss and tiredness
- Joint pain, mouth ulcers or skin problems
See a doctor promptly if
- More than 6 bloody motions a day
- Fever and fast heartbeat
- Severe abdominal pain or swelling
- Dehydration
What is IBD?
Inflammatory bowel disease includes ulcerative colitis (affecting the colon) and Crohn’s disease (which can affect any part of the gut). In India, intestinal tuberculosis can look very similar to Crohn’s disease, so careful testing is essential.
Diagnosis
Colonoscopy with biopsies, blood and stool tests (including calprotectin), and imaging such as CT/MR enterography or intestinal ultrasound.
Treatment
- Mesalamine, steroids for flares, and immunomodulators
- Biologic and small-molecule therapies for moderate to severe disease
- Regular monitoring and colon cancer surveillance in long-standing colitis
How we can help
ColonoscopyA camera examination of the large bowel to investigate bleeding, bowel changes or anaemia, remove polyps and screen for colon cancer.
Enteroscopy & Capsule EvaluationExamining the small intestine — the part a normal endoscopy or colonoscopy cannot reach — with a swallowable camera capsule or a long enteroscope.
Frequently asked questions
IBD is a long-term condition, but most patients achieve long periods of remission with appropriate treatment and follow-up.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shivam Kalia MBBS, MD (Medicine), DM (Gastroenterology) · Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist