“How is IBD diagnosed?”
I am a 31 year old male. My doctor suspects I might have IBD. How is IBD diagnosed?
7 Answers
Based on your symptoms reported.
IBD is diagnosed by unifying information from various sources in a patient. You should have a combination of characteristic symptoms, abnormal imaging, and (usually on a colonoscopy) finding gross inflammation in the GI tract with biopsies showing chronic inflammation.
IBD is diagnosed by obtaining a good history, family history, physical exam, laboratory data and a colonoscopy with biopsies. If IBD is suspected based on symptoms and exam, then laboratory data and colonoscopy is the next step. you should see a Gastroenterologist if IBD is suspected.
IBD or inflammatory bowel disease is actually a grouping of several diseases placed into a category. Considered to be primarily Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, IBD is thought to be an inflammatory process within the bowel wall. Most are caused by an autoimmune process meaning your body’s immune system begins the inflammation process against its own tissue. While lab tests might suggest these inflammatory diseases, diagnostic testing is often needed. A colonoscopy is often the best test as it can obtain biopsies to confirm the disease while visualizing the bowel to determine the extent of the disease. Imaging such as a CT scan might suggest IBD as well.
The diagnosis based on symptoms alone. Conventional lab tests are usually negative.
Irritable bowel syndrome is usually diagnosed by your history of symptoms and then elimination of more serious bowel problems such as Inflammatory bowel disease or colitis with a colonoscopy.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) distinguished by inflammation, diagnosis include imaging, blood tests and procedures, as there is no one test that can diagnose ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. To get a diagnosis, it is important to consult a doctor, such as a gastroenterologist or another physician who specializes in Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, one important step in this process is the endoscopy a procedure that permits direct evaluation of the mucosa of the intestine, it also will allow to take samples of tissue of the intestinal wall that are of great value to make a diagnosis.
