Differentiating IBS from IBD

Digestive issues can be difficult to confront. The terms irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease might be recognizable to most people, and it can be easy to mistake one for the other. Although similar, they are not interchangeable.

According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, IBS and IBD are two distinct gastrointestinal disorders that require different treatments. Learning what makes these conditions different can help a person find relief.

IBS

Cedars-Sinai says IBS affects the lower gastrointestinal area, which includes the colon, large intestine and small intestine. People with IBS can experience constipation, chronic diarrhea or both. According to Dr. Mark Pimentel, director of Cedars-Sinai’s GI Motility Program, up to 70 percent of IBS patients have experienced severe food poisoning, which he believes is the primary cause of the disease.

IBS is characterized by abdominal cramps and gassy feelings. Women are more affected than men, and symptoms may begin in late adolescence or early adult life during times of emotional stress, says the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Antibiotics, as well as dietary changes, often can help alleviate IBS symptoms.

IBD

IBD will cause inflammation of the intestine and is a broad term for a spectrum of disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The Mayo Clinic says, unlike IBS, IBD can put patients at risk for colon cancer, and bleeding is a common symptom during bowel movements. Watery diarrhea can be common in both conditions. But if blood is present, that likely indicates IBD.

Weight loss is another symptom of IBD, which may be a side effect of malabsorption of foods. IBD abdominal pain is different from IBS in that it tends to occur constantly in a specific location, and is not relieved by bowel movements.

Since IBD can cause irreparable damage to the intestines as a result of inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs often are used to treat IBD. Corticosteroids also are used to induce remission, says the Mayo Clinic. Immunosuppressant drugs also may be used to suppress the immune response. These drugs release inflammation-inducing chemicals into the body that can damage the lining of the digestive tract.

Like IBS, dietary changes also may be recommended for IBD, particularly omission of certain foods that can contribute to attacks. Anti-diarrheal medications along with fiber supplements can help alleviate loose stools.

IBS and IBD share some characteristics, but they are two distinct conditions that are treated differently.