Complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Unfortunately having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or the medications used to treat it, can put you at risk of developing complications and other conditions.

These include:

• Bowel cancer - ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease affecting the large intestine (colon)
  
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Fistulas - more common in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis
• Intestinal abscesses - more common in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis
• Bile acid malabsorption (BAM) - in Crohn's disease affecting the small intestine
• Loss of bone density and osteoporosis
• Slow growth in children
• Delayed puberty
• Changes to periods and delayed periods
• Intestinal strictures
• Bowel rupture
• Toxic megacolon - more common in ulcerative colitis than Crohn's disease
• Joint pain, arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Skin conditions
• Eye disorders
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disorders - such as Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
• Anxiety and depression

The conditions that you will be more at risk of developing will depend on the type of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis you have.

It’s important to be aware of the complications and other conditions that you could be at risk of developing and learning if there is anything you can do to help.

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