Q. What is the difference between the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are both types of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which affect the digestive system and cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms. Although these two conditions share some similarities, there are key differences between them that should be noted.
The main difference between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is where the inflammation occurs in the digestive tract. In ulcerative colitis, inflammation only happens in the large intestine (colon) and rectum, while Crohn’s affects other parts of the digestive tract as well, including any part from the mouth to anus. Crohn’s also causes deep ulcers throughout its entire depth—meaning it can affect layers of tissue beyond just what lines your intestines—while ulcerative colitis mainly targets just the innermost layer of cells lining your colon and rectum.
Another major difference between these two IBDs is their symptom presentation. Common symptoms for both conditions include abdominal cramping or pain; bloody stools; increased gas or bloating; weight loss; fatigue; diarrhoea with urgent need to use toilets frequently; anemia due to low red blood cell count caused by bleeding within bowels; skin rashes called pyoderma gangrenosum or erythema nodosum associated with arthritis-like joint pains etc.. However, some symptoms may present themselves differently depending on where along your digestive system is affected with either one condition or another one: suggested signs for ulcerative colitis are tenderness around belly button area before sores occur in colon area with severe watery stools causing severe dehydration & joint pain related backache (also known as spondyloarthropathy). On contrary suggested signs for Crohn’s Disease include tenders spots/lumps felt through abdominal wall before fistulas & abscesses occur along deep intestinal walls with less frequent but more bloody stool accompanied by fever & night sweats caused by deep abscess buildups into infected organs such as liver & gall bladder resulting into jaundice color changes etc..
Taking all this information into consideration makes it clear that there are distinct differences between Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease – making diagnosis even more important so you can get help specific to your needs going forward towards health recovery process!
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