Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, is a chronic condition that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, in particular the small intestine and colon. There isn't one single cause, like a virus or bacterium, but genetic factors combined with diet, trauma, or change in gut microbes can provoke an inappropriate immune response that causes the tissue in the intestines to become inflamed.IBD is an umbrella term that encompasses conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which have similar symptoms. The difference between these two is the location within the GI tract that is affected. These diseases can be cyclical, with patients experiencing "flare-ups," when symptoms peak, followed by periods of remission with few symptoms. While IBD is rarely fatal on its own, it can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms in sufferers than can reduce quality of life.
