Final answer:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are autoimmune processes where the immune system attacks the intestines. Crohn's can affect any part of the GI tract with symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea, while ulcerative colitis mainly affects the colon and rectum. Both have genetic and environmental factors as potential contributors to their causation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease is a collection of inflammatory conditions primarily affecting the intestines. The two principal types of inflammatory bowel diseases are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions are thought to be autoimmune processes where the immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive tract, contributing to symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss. The etiology of Crohn's disease is believed to be multifactorial, involving a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as diet and smoking.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis primarily affects the colon and rectum. Its exact cause remains unknown, but may involve immune system dysfunction, genetics, environmental factors like diet, and other lifestyle choices. Diagnosis usually involves a colonoscopy and tissue biopsies.