Is it irritable bowel disease?

INFLAMMATORY bowel disease ( IBD) Irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS) Signs and symptoms

• Abdominal pain and cramping

• Diarrhoea • Blood in stools

• Fever and fatigue

• Reduced appetite

• Weight loss

• Inflammation in digestive tract

• Ulcers in digestive tract

• Abdominal pain and cramping

• Diarrhoea

• Constipation

• Mucus in stool

• Bloating and gas

• No inflammation in digestive tract

• No damage to digestive tract

Cause Unknown

Unknown Prevalence Affects around 1 in 10,000 Singaporeans Estimated to affect 20 per cent of the population worldwide Treatment Me d ic at ions commonly used include anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, antibiotics and antibody-based treatments known as biologics

• Lifestyle changes such as balanced diet, regular exercise and reducing stress

• Medications such as laxatives or anti-diarrhoeal drugs to relieve specific problems

Complications

• Greater chance of getting colon cancer

• Ulcers in digestive tract

• Increased risk of surgery

• Malnutrition

• Anaemia Impaired quality of life