Diseases of the GI Tract 2025

IBD: A Comprehensive Guide to Pathophysiology and Treatment - Team 39

Media Type: Infographic

Summary

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) describes a group of chronic disorders that result in inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with larger emphasis in the small intestine and colon. IBD encompasses a broader category of diseases including but not limited to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptomically, these conditions result in abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, weight loss and as a result, may severely impede a person’s quality of life. The inflammation associated with IBD may lead to complications including bowel obstruction, fistulas and increased risk of colon cancer (include why?). With the understanding that IBD is a lifelong condition with periodic flare-ups and remission, its causes are not fully understood but treatment is still crucial. Albeit, there is currently no cure for IBD, medication, lifestyle changes, careful monitoring and potentially surgical procedures (which ones) may improve a person’s quality of life and management of the disease. This PULSE experiential assignment aims to design a pamphlet that outlines what Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) is, diagnostic tools, disease progression, management and treatment. With the goal in mind of designing a comprehensive pamphlet on IBD for the general public, we aim to increase accessibility to information on gastrointestinal diseases, raise awareness about IBD and necessity for treatment options . We aim to provide detailed and extensive information in a ready to read format enabling our readers to grasp what the disease is and its prognosis while also recognizing that there are treatment courses available. Additionally, the pamphlet will provide an “interview with an expert” segment allowing for first-person recounts and (case studies?) that demonstrate the impact of IBD on patient’s lives and health outcomes.

Keywords: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammation, Autoimmune Disease, Gastrointestinal Tract