Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and SIBO: What’s the Connection?
If you suspect you have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or another GI issue, you may be wondering if SIBO could factor into your diagnosis. The truth is that there is a correlation between Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and SIBO.
While doctors are still studying the way these GI issues intertwine, knowing the possible signs and symptoms of Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and SIBO can help during the diagnostic process. The more information you have about these conditions, the better you can report to your doctor and assess symptoms.
Although conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are serious, treating comorbidities like SIBO can alleviate your discomfort, helping you get back on the path to wellness. Here’s how to know if a SIBO breath test could help you on your journey.
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is one of the many inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) types. If you have Crohn’s disease, you experience inflammation of the tissues in your digestive tract, which runs from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease’s inflammation can affect any area of the digestive tract, although it’s often most prevalent in the small intestine. Some people also experience symptoms that focus mainly in the colon or large intestine.
Crohn’s disease is a painful illness that can cause sudden extreme discomfort, disrupting your enjoyment of regular activities. Flare-ups of the condition can lead to malnutrition and may even become life-threatening.
With Crohn’s disease, it’s all amount managing the symptoms, as there is no known cure for the illness. Sufferers can experience long periods of remission, wherein the body can heal, and inflammation diminishes almost completely. People with Crohn’s disease can live full and vibrant lives, especially when they’ve found ways to manage their symptoms.
Some common symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Sores in the mouth
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loose and bloody stool
- Anal fissures or fistulas, which can drain and become infected
- Weight loss and malnutrition
Crohn’s disease can sometimes lead to other complications, including inflammation of organs like the liver. In addition, the fatigue and weight loss associated with Crohn’s can be highly debilitating. The development of infection within the digestive tract tissues is also a concern.
Many doctors consider Crohn’s disease adjacent to autoimmune disorders, often preferring to describe it as an autoinflammatory disorder. Causes linked to Crohn’s include genetics and environmental factors.
Both the disease and potential treatments can further compromise the immune system, making sufferers even more susceptible to infection and flare-ups. If you suspect you may have Crohn’s disease, it’s critical to visit a doctor that can help you manage the symptoms and find relief.
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis or “UC” is often associated with Crohn’s disease. Both afflictions are similar, with similar symptoms. The main difference between Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis is that UC is indicated by continuous inflammation within the colon.
People with UC experience colon, large intestine, and rectum inflammation. Tiny ulcerations, or “ulcers,” form along the colon lining in ulcerative colitis. These ulcers can rupture, bleed, and become infected, releasing pus.
Like Crohn’s disease, UC is an extremely painful condition that can have similar effects. People who suffer from both illnesses are often in severe pain during flares. They may experience extreme fatigue and find they have little appetite. Weight loss is also a common concern of UC.
The uncertainty of both conditions can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. People may feel embarrassed about this condition or concerned that exposure to different foods and activities could trigger a flare. They may also worry that a sudden flare-up could occur while away from home or a restroom.
Some common symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Loose stools that may include blood and pus
- Exhaustion
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Painful joints and skin inflammation
- Mouth ulcers
- Fever
As with Crohn’s disease, UC patients can experience remission and periods of milder symptoms. The symptoms of a flare can come on suddenly with seemingly no trigger. In some cases, a bout of UC may be related to illness, stress, or other conditions, but the corollary relationship is still unclear, making both conditions unpredictable.
Fortunately, doctors can help you get flair-related symptoms under control, especially if they are caught early and addressed proactively. As with most digestive issues, diagnostic testing is the first step to determining the root cause of your discomfort and finding the right answers for treatment.
Treatments may include certain medications to suppress the body’s inflammatory response, steroids, and in some severe cases, surgery. Medical professionals can also help guide you through steps to balance stress and concerns surrounding Crohn’s disease and UC.
What is SIBO?
SIBO stands for “small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.” This condition is marked by an increase in the flora and bacteria of the small intestine. Often SIBO occurs when non-native bacteria grow in the tract.
Unlike Crohn’s and UC, SIBO can be addressed and corrected with the right course of treatment. It often occurs due to an imbalance in the digestive tract. Digestion slows down, and the food and related waste cause excess bacteria growth. This digestive issue might be a complication from surgery, an anatomical or structural issue because of certain medications, or another illness in the body.
Fortunately, antibiotics can help to combat bacterial overgrowth and are often an effective treatment for SIBO.
Some common symptoms of SIBO include:
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Nausea, bloating, and indigestion
- Diarrhea and loose stools
- An extreme feeling of fullness after eating
- Loss of appetite, weight loss, and malnutrition
The symptoms of SIBO can appear similar to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, so it’s important that your physician administers tests to get to the root cause of your discomfort. Many digestive disorders can appear similar, but determining an accurate diagnosis will ensure you follow an optimal course of treatment.
How do Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, and SIBO Relate?
So, how do Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, and SIBO relate aside from having similar symptoms? Are they related at all?
Crohn’s disease and UC both affect the intestinal tract. In some cases, and in some treatments for these illnesses, food and waste can slow down in the tract. As a result of this motility issue, SIBO can occur and lead to additional complications.
Bacteria and inflammation are dangerous together. For example, if patients experience a flare of their ulcerative colitis and SIBO simultaneously, it can lead to infection of fistulas and increased ulceration. This could exacerbate discomfort and symptoms of UC and Crohn’s.
While the diagnostic process for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can involve extensive testing, one simple way to eliminate the complication of SIBO is by taking a breath test. A SIBO breath test from QuinTron can help your doctor determine the next course of action. For example, they may recommend specific dietary changes or medications like antibiotics to help you regain the flora balance in your digestive tract.
The presence of SIBO doesn’t rule out other conditions like UC and Crohn’s, but it can help doctors navigate the proper treatment and figure out a path to relief. If you’re struggling with symptoms that you suspect may be related to SIBO, don’t wait. Order your breath test today and discuss the condition with your doctor.
A QuinTron breath test offers a piece of the diagnostic puzzle for digestive disorders. When you’re suffering from digestive discomfort, it can help you get on the path to relief.