Final answer:
Inflammatory bowel disease includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, chronic conditions caused by autoimmune reactions in the GI tract, leading to symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain, affecting quality of life and school participation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease encompasses chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, primarily involving two distinct disorders: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Whereas Crohn's disease can impact any part of the GI tract as well as other tissues like joints and skin, ulcerative colitis is generally confined to the colon and rectum. Both conditions manifest due to the body's immune system mistakenly attacking the digestive system, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and often resulting in other complications such as malnutrition or increased cancer risks. Crohn's disease might additionally cause various extraintestinal symptoms, including skin rashes. These conditions seriously affect life quality and may also impact other aspects such as school attendance and participation in physical activities due to fatigue and frequent medical appointments.
Comparing Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's disease often presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, weight loss, and may lead to bowel obstructions. Ulcerative colitis, primarily affecting the colon and rectum, causes symptoms like abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Management of these diseases is key to maintaining a good quality of life, even though they might not drastically reduce life expectancy when properly treated.