General Overview

Inflammatory bowel diseases are long-lasting diseases that cause irritation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. The most common disorders are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

• Overview: inflammatory bowel disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn's disease

InDepth

Find answers in our in-depth report on inflammatory bowel disease:

• What is inflammatory bowel disease?
• What are the risk factors?
• What are the symptoms?
• How is it diagnosed?
• How is it treated?
• What are the screening tests?
• How can I reduce my risk?
• What questions should I ask my healthcare provider about inflammatory bowel disease?

Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures

Living With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Coping with severe ulcerative colitis: an interview with Richard

Preventing Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Slippery elm

The dried inner bark of the slippery-elm tree was a favorite of many Native American tribes, and was subsequently adopted by European colonists. Slippery elm was used as a treatment for sore throat, coughs, dryness of the lungs, skin inflammations, wounds, and irritation of the digestive tract.

Special Topics

Irritable bowel syndrome: strategies for managing a complex condition

Irritable bowel syndrome doesn't easily fit into the traditional medical model. Researchers have not yet come up with a coherent scientific explanation, let alone a cause, for its debilitating symptoms. This means that there is no cure or even a comprehensive treatment. The best that doctors can offer is management of symptoms, one at a time.

When your child has inflammatory bowel disease

Your child is adjusting to medications, diet, and lifestyle changes to manage his disease. But some of the greatest challenges he faces are social and emotional challenges. Find out what you can do to help.

Related Conditions

• Acute abdomen
• Acute diarrhea
• Celiac disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Peptic ulcer

Natural and Alternative Treatments (By Condition)

• Inflammatory bowel disease