Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a relatively common condition and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestine. The most important inflammatory bowel diseases are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Although both disorders can present with symptoms such as diarrhea, bleeding, the presence of mucus in the stool, and abdominal pain, ulcerative colitis is typically found in the large intestine and Crohn's disease usually affects the small intestine. Identifying the causative agents can help inhibit the progression of inflammatory bowel disease.