repeat endoscopies in the initial stages every 3-6 months or depending on the clinical course (improvement of the disease).

The word "cured" may not apply. However, the patient remains symptom free or in remission for a long time. Theoretically patient would require life long treatment.

Normally Inflammatory Bowel Disease is not a serious condition. However, occasionally it can land up in life threatening complications.
The commonest minor complications are:



The major complications are severe bleeds or toxic megacolon.

Surgery is necessary if the disease does not come under control with medical treatment and or there are life-threatening complications.
Surgical treatment consists of removing Large intestine in Ulcerative colitis and or affected part of large or small intestine in Crohn’s disease.

Patient can survive very well when the large intestine is removed and can also survive if small portion of small intestine removed.

There is no special diet that can help IBD. However, it is prudent to avoid chillies, fried feeds and outside food.

By and large prognosis of IBD is reasonably good. If patient understands the illness and accepts the illness, they remain happy.

Last updated on 24-06-2002