IBD symptoms vary in different individuals according to the extent of involvement and intensity of inflammation. They commonly include the following:
Abdominal Pain – Usually occurs in the lower abdominal region but it can vary according to the site of disease involvement.
Chronic diarrhea lasting more than 4 weeks with or without blood/mucus.
Tenesmus (Rectal Pain and Urge to Defecate)
Nausea and Vomiting
Fatigue
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Loss of Appetite
Unexplained Weight Loss
Mouth Sores and Ulcers (mainly in CD)
Perianal disease -pain, swelling, watery or pus like discharge in the anal area.
In children, IBD can manifest as failure to gain weight and height (growth retardation).
Common symptoms of IBD are-:
An urgent need to go to the washroom
Frequent loose motions, sometimes containing blood
Decreased appetite (not feeling hungry)
Mucus in the stool or sticky stools
Nausea (vomiting sensation)
Weight loss
Feeling tired and loss of energy
Pain in the lower abdomen (tummy)
Frequent bowel upsets
Sleep Difficulty
Individuals with IBD are more likely to experience depression and appear to have higher rates of other mood disorders such as panic and anxiety. These disorders impair the patient’s quality of life and response to treatment.
Individuals with IBD require emotional support from health care professionals, family members and counsellors to help them cope with the impact of IBD
Many of these symptoms are considered ‘socially unacceptable’, and individuals with IBD may feel stigmatised as a result of their symptoms and subsequently experience low self-esteem.
Inflammatory bowel disease can be considered as a systemic illness and in some patients extraintestinal symptoms and signs dominate the clinical picture.
