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Overview

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Urgent advice: Ask for advice from your IBD team if you have:

  • addominal pain / cramping
  • diarrhoea which can be urgent and may contain mucus or blood
  • tiredness and fatigue
  • feeling generally unwell
  • raised temperature/feel feverish
  • mouth ulcers
  • loss of appetite and weight loss
  • anaemia

Overview

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term mainly used to describe two conditions: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are long-term conditions that involve inflammation of the gut.

Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon (large intestine). Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus.

People of any age can get IBD, but it’s usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40

Important

The following information is related to nutrition advice for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease that is in remission. This page is not for those with ‘active’ disease. If you are suffering with active disease then please seek advice from your hospital IBD team.