We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Difference Between Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis?

By Erin J. Hill
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,526
Share

The main difference between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is that Crohn's disease can affect the small intestines as well as the colon itself. Colitis is contained in the large intestine, or colon, only and doesn't generally impact a patient's overall nutrition intake like Crohn's disease can. Both are caused by an autoimmune response against the digestive tract and both can cause discomfort due to inflammation.

Although Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are very similar in nature, there are a couple of primary differences between them. For one, ulcerative colitis only causes inflammation of the colon while Crohn's may also cause inflammation of the entire digestive tract. This can lead to malnutrition since vitamins and minerals are generally absorbed through the small intestine. Ulcerative colitis can also eventually cause ulcers to form in the colon on the surface of the tissue, while Crohn's disease may cause deep lesions in any area.

Pain may be located in different areas for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, with colitis patients usually noticing pain in the lower left portion of the abdomen and Crohn's patients noticing pain in the lower right area. This is not always the case, and doctors may have a hard time making a diagnosis until tissue samples are taken or another test is performed to determine which condition is to blame for symptoms.

Ulcerative colitis may cause bleeding from the rectum, while this is a rare occurrence in Crohn's disease patients. It has also been shown that ulcerative colitis tends to impact the entire large intestine while Crohn's disease may only cause inflamed patches throughout the digestive tract. This is one indicator doctors look for when making a diagnosis.

An unusual finding on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is that smoking seems to offer some protection against ulcerative colitis while causing further complications and more severe symptoms in Crohn's disease patients. It has been noted that smokers rarely get ulcerative colitis. That said, since smoking has a wide range of health risks including heart disease, stroke, and cancer, it is not recommended as a prevention for any condition or disease.

Despite these differences, the similarities between ulcerative colitis and Cohn's disease are numerous. Both are caused by an autoimmune disorder, which means the body's own immune system begins attacking healthy cells. This can lead to inflammation. Symptoms of both disorders can include digestive upset, abdominal pain, bloating, and distention. Digestive symptoms can include constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, gas, reflux, and a combination between various issues such as diarrhea followed by constipation.

Treatments may require dietary changes for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Each individual will have to try various foods to determine which ones cause an increase in symptoms and which ones are neutral. In general, foods to avoid include dairy, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. Refined sugars and carbohydrates can also be hard to digest and may need to be avoided by some patients. Prescription medications are also common treatments for both conditions.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Logicfest — On Feb 07, 2014

Smoking can help ward off ulcerative colitis? Who knew? This sounds terrible to say, but ask anyone with ulcerative colitis how miserable the condition is and they might say the health risks with smoking might offset the horrors and embarrassment that come with the condition.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-the-difference-between-crohns-disease-and-ulcerative-colitis.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.