a. Crohn’s Disease:
1. Crohn’s Disease: an inflammatory disease with unknown etiology that can affect any portion of gastrointestinal tract and may lead to life-threatening complications
a. Symptoms:

1. i. Abdominal pain
2. ii. Weight loss and reduced appetite
3. iii. Blood in your stool
4. iv. Persistent diarrhea
5. v. Fever
6. vi. See doctor immediately when you have severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, and severe diarrhea

b. Diagnosis:

1. i. Blood tests
2. ii. Colonoscopy
3. iii. Endoscopy
4. iv. CT/MRI

c. Treatment: depends on the site of disease

1. i. Anti-inflammatory drugs: prednisone, sulfasalazine, mesalamine
2. ii. Immune system suppressors: azathioprine, infliximab, methotrexate, cyclosporine, tacrolimus etc.
3. iii. Antibiotics; metronidazole, ciprofloxacin
4. iv. Surgery in severe cases

d. More information:

1. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America: http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/

e. Reference:

1. http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/?referrer=https://www.google.com/
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/basics/symptoms/con-20032061
3. http://www.uptodate.com.jerome.stjohns.edu:81/contents/ove rview-of-the-medical-management-of-mild-to-moderate-crohn-disease-in-adults?source=search_result&search=crohn%27s+diease&select edTitle=1~150#H11241188

2. Ulcerative Colitis: an inflammatory bowel disease that affects innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. It may lead to life-threatening complications
a. Symptoms:

1. i. Loose and urgent bowel movements
2. ii. Persistent diarrhea
3. iii. Abdominal cramps
4. iv. Blood in your stool
5. v. See doctor immediately when you have severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, and severe diarrhea

b. Diagnosis:

1. i. Blood test
2. ii. Stool sample
3. iii. Colonoscopy
4. iv. X-ray/CT

c. Treatment:

1. i. Topical (rectal)
2. 1. Mesalamine
3. 2. Hydrocortisone
4. ii. Anti-inflammatory drugs: prednisone, sulfasalazine, mesalamine
5. iii. Immune system suppressors: azathioprine, infliximab, methotrexate, cyclosporine, tacrolimus etc.
6. iv. Antibiotics; metronidazole, ciprofloxacin
7. v. Surgery in severe cases

d. More information:

1. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America: http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-ulcerative-colitis/

e. Reference:

1. http://www.uptodate.com.jerome.stjohns.edu:81/contents/management-of-mild-to-moderate-ulcerative-colitis-in-adults?source=search_result&search=ulcerative+colitis&selectedTitle=2~150#H432583317
2. http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-ulcerative-colitis/
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/basics/treatment/con-20043763