Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease?
Ulcerative colitis is considered to be related to Crohn's disease, another chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines (both are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease); however, Crohn's disease, unlike ulcerative colitis, is not limited to the colon. In fact, Crohn's disease usually involves the small intestine or small intestine and colon although occasionally it too is limited to the colon. Another chronic gastrointestinal disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, shares with ulcerative colitis abdominal pain and diarrhea as its main symptoms; however, the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is believed to be dysfunction of the nerves and muscles of the intestines since there is no identifiable inflammation.
