Everyone with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) should receive an early and accurate diagnosis of their condition. Inflammatory bowel diseases are a group of chronic conditions of the gut affecting about 500,000 people in the UK and include both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.1-2
Early diagnosis will enable you to get the correct treatment and support you need sooner, which can help manage your condition better. So, ensure to speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you are unwell.2
The symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can be similar to one another as well as with other conditions, so your doctor will perform some tests to rule them out and determine which condition you have. These tests will not be able to tell you whether or not you have either IBD, but they can narrow down the probable cause.2
Carry out a physical examination
They may examine your abdomen and check for any lumps or tenderness
Order a blood test
A blood test can check if you have inflammation somewhere else in your body
Order a poo (stool) sample
This is to check if you have any inflammatory markers in your poo which may indicate you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
The tests you might have include:3
The tests you might have include:4
Once you get an accurate diagnosis you can work with your specialist team to manage your condition.
IBD is a serious condition and you may be feeling overwhelmed and worried about the process. It’s important to take the steps to obtain a diagnosis so you get the right help and support.
Crohn’s & Colitis UK (CCUK) have produced a step-by-step guide to obtaining a diagnosis, with details on:2