A woman engaging in a consultation with a doctor Medical Conditions
Symptoms
Inflammatory Bowel Disease

There are two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These occur when chronic inflammation develops in the bowel due to an abnormal immune response which may be triggered by infection, medications or other unknown factors in at risk patients.

The symptoms of IBD may include:

  • Diarrhoea with or without bleeding
  • The passage of mucus with bowel motions
  • Rectal pain or discharge
  • Abdominal pain
  • Weight loss
  • Poor weight gain/growth in children or adolescents
  • Fatigue
  • Fevers

In order to diagnose IBD you will need a colonoscopy, and possibly other investigations. The treatment of these conditions is aimed at controlling the inflammation to reduce symptoms and prevent complications. This can involve tablets and sometimes injections or infusions. A proportion of patients with severe disease require surgery.
If you are diagnosed with IBD your specialist will provide a detailed explanation of this condition and the management of it. Further information is available at https://crohnsandcolitis.org.nz/

Contact Us

Booking a consultation

Get in touch today with one of our team and we’ll arrange a time that suits you to see one of our specialists.