Difference Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are two distinct gastrointestinal disorders, eventhough the differences between the them can be confusing for many people.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 

IBS is also known as spastic colon, irritable colon, mucous colitis, and spastic colitis. IBS is a group of intestinal symptoms that typically occur together. The symptoms  last at least three months for at least three days per month.

The risk of developing IBS was double for person with anxiety and depression.

IBS pain may feel like cramping. With this cramping, you will also have at least two of the following experiences:

1. some relief of pain after a bowel movement
2. a change in how often you have a bowel movement
3. changes in the way your stools look

There is no cure for IBS. Treatment is aimed at symptom relief. 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 

IBD is a term for two conditions (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

Reference

Sibelli, A. et al., 2016,'A systematic review with meta-analysis of the role of anxiety and depression in irritable bowel syndrome onset', Journal of Psychological Medicine, pp. 1-16.

www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD.htm#:~:text=Inflammatory%20bowel%20disease%20(IBD)%20is,the%20gastrointestinal%20(GI)www.researchgate.net/figure/Comparision-of-Crohns-disease-vs-ulcerative-colitis_tbl1_267572261

www.celgene.com/ulcerative-colitis-chrons-different-strategies/

www.healthline.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome