Question

Discuss at least three similarities and three differences between Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Answer 1

Both Crohn’s diseases and ulcerative colitis cause digestive distress and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It belongs to a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Ulcerative colitis happens when the immune system overreacts and mistakes the lining of the colon, as a foreign object to be attacked.

Similarities:

• abdominal pain or discomfort
• bloody stools
• weight loss

Differences:

The symptoms of both diseases are very similar. Because of this, it is nearly impossible to diagnose or determine if a person has Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, by looking at symptoms alone

• One difference between the two diseases is that Crohn’s affects the entire GI tract, whereas ulcerative colitis affects only the colon
• Crohn’s disease is present closer to the stomach, more likely to experience nausea and vomiting