Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis)

What it is

Inflammatory bowel diseases, mainly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic conditions in which the immune system causes persistent inflammation in the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the rectum and colon continuously; Crohn's disease can involve any segment, from the esophagus to the anus, with lesions in alternating areas and a greater tendency toward fistulas and strictures. Both progress through periods of flare-ups and remission, with diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding and weight loss. At Femi Saúde, the coloproctology team diagnoses the condition, treats perianal manifestations, and follows the disease together with gastroenterology, aiming to control inflammation, preserve the intestine, and maintain the patient's quality of life.

Most common symptoms

• Persistent diarrhea, sometimes with blood
• Recurrent abdominal pain and cramping
• Sudden urgency to have a bowel movement
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue and low-grade fever
• Fistulas or abscesses in the anal region
• Joint pain or skin lesions

Causes and risk factors

• Altered immune response
• Genetic and family predisposition
• Imbalance of the gut microbiota
• Smoking (especially in Crohn's disease)
• Environmental factors and a Western diet

How it is diagnosed

Diagnosis combines the clinical history with blood and stool tests, which assess inflammation, anemia, and markers such as fecal calprotectin, along with a colonoscopy with biopsies, which shows the pattern and extent of the lesions. In Crohn's disease, imaging exams such as MR enterography help evaluate the small intestine and identify fistulas and strictures. The coloproctologist also examines the perianal region, where atypical fissures, fistulas, and abscesses can be the first sign of the disease. Distinguishing Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis is essential to guide treatment.

How we treat it at Femi Saúde

Treatment aims to induce and maintain remission of the inflammation. Depending on severity, aminosalicylates, short courses of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologic medications are used, with regular monitoring. At the same time, the coloproctology team at Femi Saúde treats the perianal complications of Crohn's disease, such as fistulas and abscesses, with procedures that preserve continence, and assesses the need for surgery when there are strictures, refractory bleeding, or failure of medical treatment. Nutritional guidance, smoking cessation, and emotional support complement the care, and colonoscopy surveillance reduces the long-term risk of colorectal cancer.

What we offer