Ulcerative Colitis versus Crohn's Disease, Animation

(USMLE topics) UC vs CD: How to differentiate symptoms, pathophysiology; differential diagnosis.
Purchase a license to download a non-watermarked version of this video on AlilaMedicalMedia(dot)com
Check out our new Alila Academy - AlilaAcademy(dot)com - complete video courses with quizzes, PDFs, and downloadable images.
Voice by: Marty Henne
©Alila Medical Media. All rights reserved.
All images/videos by Alila Medical Media are for information purposes ONLY and are NOT intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the 2 major forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, or GI tract. Ulcerative colitis is limited only to the large intestine. It usually starts from the rectum, and may remain confined to that location; or, it can spread upward in a continuous fashion, affecting parts, or all, of the colon.
Crohn disease, on the other hand, can occur anywhere along the GI tract, but it usually involves the small intestine. Most commonly affected are the end of the small bowel, the ileum, and the beginning of the colon. Crohn disease is not continuous: inflamed segments are usually interrupted by normal healthy tissues. The rectum is always affected in ulcerative colitis, but is usually spared in Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis only involves the inner lining of the intestinal wall, while Crohn’s disease extends to its entire thickness. In imaging studies, the mucosa in Crohn’s disease has a patchy appearance, with alternating regions of diseased and normal tissues; the bowel wall is affected asymmetrically. In ulcerative colitis, mucosal inflammation is diffuse and uniform; the bowel wall is affected symmetrically. Thickening of the intestinal wall, bowel obstructions and fistulas are unique to Crohn’s disease.
Both conditions result from an inappropriate response of the immune system, but their mechanisms are likely different. Ulcerative colitis is associated with abnormally high levels of helper T-cell type 2, Th-2, while Crohn’s disease has more type 1 (Th1) activities.
Age of onset and risk factors are similar for both conditions, with a notable exception of smoking, which exacerbates Crohn’s disease but has a protective effect on ulcerative colitis.
The 2 disorders share many common symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and extra-intestinal manifestations. However, Crohn’s disease symptoms can be more variable depending on the affected locations, and often include anal fistulas and abscesses. Intestinal bleeding is much more common in ulcerative colitis, while malnutrition and weight loss is more common in Crohn’s disease.
When Crohn’s disease involves only the colon, the symptoms can be indistinguishable from ulcerative colitis. Fortunately, because treatment is similar, no distinction is necessary unless surgery is considered. This is because surgical removal of the diseased colon is curative for ulcerative colitis, but only provides temporary relief for Crohn’s disease.

[@koltontroutt2178]

POV: you have one of the two and wanted to know what its like to have the other

[@d99mc33]

POV trying to explain your condition to family 😂

[@Tommy_007]

Knowledge of the differences increases one's knowledge of one's own disease.

[@Divineyessi]

POV: you have both 🙂

[@stephanieramirez2248]

I like this man's voice and the easy to understand explanation.

[@mgamboa1428]

This is my to-go KZbin page when I do not clearly understand something in class. Thank you for this material. Clear, basic, straightforward.

[@ucandibscurer]

i know the cure i already cured mine i can eat whatever i want , without any medication only with exercise techques and diet , but literally no one beleives in me .GOD PROMISE i know the CURE.

[@juliawalkerthompson27]

Yes such a soothing and reassuring voice Excellent subject knowledge conveyed with simple terms

[@DrBrunoRecipes]

Excellent info👌🏻 Greetings from Scotland 😊 Have a wonderful day everyone 🌻

[@FatimaezzahraaBOUHOUCH]

Thank you so much these information were very useful ❤

[@paramedicchrisbookseries]

Being a chrohn's sufferer myself, this is an excellent video to show others what this nasty disease is.

[@manpreetkaur7486]

My ulcerative colitis symptoms have improved so much since I started Planet Ayurveda’s treatment plan. I feel more balanced and healthier.

[@edwardkennedy9919]

Diet is a major factor, cut bread, sugar processed foods, I have uc and the carnivore diet has helped me greatly.

[@jaytbutt1650]

Carnivore diet such as meat??

[@edwardkennedy9919]

@@jaytbutt1650 yes, but not processed

[@ImadAlnumat-f6l]

@@edwardkennedy9919are you ok now?

[@goodoleme747]

The body runs on carbohydrates... you cut carbs, you'll feel like crap. You should limit fat intake....red meats has high amounts of fats. I would avoid meats,

[@Tom-ch6ig]

solid and succinct comparison

[@nooralshaikh5016]

Thank you 🙏 this was very helpful

[@ZadenZane]

I know someone who had more than a metre of intestine surgically removed due to one of these two horrible illnesses. I watched the video to try and figure out which one it was but I'm more confused than ever. I'm pretty sure it was Crohn's though...

[@ucandibscurer]

i know the cure i already cured mine i can eat whatever i want , without any medication only with exercise techniques and diet , but literally no one beleives in me .GOD PROMISE i know the CURE.

[@michael10613]

most likely crohns. UC doesn't require surgery most of the time

[@Grizzly406]

As someone with IBD… this is extremely interesting

[@jaytbutt1650]

I think this is the worst disease you can have speaking with personal experience

[@DeusEstAmor________137]

@@jaytbutt1650 try to send disease to remission you can live normal life but this disease will never leave you alone m

[@amitpalbains9361]

As someone fighting ulcerative colitis, I can say that I’ve been able to get myself into remission by watching my diet and exercise. I do fasting to allow the ulcers in my body to heal and then avoid gluten, sugar and sometimes vegetables if I’m in pretty bad shape. Also take iron for blood loss and glutamine to heal the inside. I haven’t tried cabbage juice yet but I heard it’s pretty effective so trying that next.

[@Tommy_007]

@@amitpalbains9361 May I ask what kind of exercise helps you? And how light/intense is it?

[@juanmanueltamayoperez4304]

The shitting blood to swallowing a mini-camera domino effect is something that genuinely blows my mind

[@Andres.david10]

I was normal until i aquired uc because my girlfriend did an incorect colonoscopy.

[@TheHawksFlock]

Jokes on you cuz I have both!…Haha 😢

[@kawasakieddy61]

I have UC I just found out and I have just quit smoking

[@deemaj5619]

It’s Really amazing

[@virtue1495]

Amazing!!!👍🏾

[@rakeshagarwal2353]

I have pain in my left abdominal.... Colonocopy revealed hermmorrghaic colitis in my descending and traverse colon... My gi told me to take rowasa sachet.... And after one moth i sudden have pain in my descending colon... And we did colonocopy again and it revealed the hermmorrghaic area in my descending and traverse have have turn in eythema .... And and new eythema in my descending colon and it hurts.... Anyone have idea what is this disease

[@unicorn3241]

Oh , so sad to hear this . I also got pain in my left got sudden pain in my left abdominal and my colonoscopy and endoscopy revealed it to be ulcerative colitis but yeah the biopsies haven't come yet but I can understand your pain. I hope u get better soon

[@amitpalbains9361]

I’m not a doctor so what I’m saying might not apply to you. I was recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. It was terrible especially for me who travels a lot for work. What I’ve learned after watching a of videos, success stories and visiting many doctors: you’re general doctor are pretty clueless about these conditions. My main doctor who’s supposed to be an expert in this field said there’s nothing that can be done here’s a steroid to help you control it. I see an iridologist and he said it all starts with stress and diet. I’ve taken gluten and sugar out of my diet and mostly eat meat along with fasting to help my insides recover and am in much better shape. I take quite a bit of natural medicine/vitamins but the main source of my healing is diet, exercise and managing stress. And my diet was never truly bad to begin with.

[@bobmuneer7829]

​@@unicorn3241what are symptoms did you experience?

[@unicorn3241]

@bobmuneer7829 well a sharp stomach pain in the left side if my abdomen, bleeding whenever going to the toilet. Leg pain and tiredness /fatigue and a mouth ulcer

[@bobmuneer7829]

@@unicorn3241 thank you for the information. Was your fatigue severe? And did you have joint and muscle pain throughout? If so, how severe was it?

[@wassmmd8521]

Thx

[@jonnyhead]

Perfectly described thank you 😊

[@lovelysosweet8386]

Understood 💯💯

[@Tommy_007]

Very good video!!

[@abdallaazzam907]

nice explanation

[@sanjaisrao484]

Thanks

[@wajdy77hasan45]

Up

[@ainhoabergara2021]

So helpful!!

[@datascience2747]

Nice video.

[@ucandibscurer]

i know the cure i already cured mine i can eat whatever i want , without any medication only with exercise techniques and diet , but literally no one belives in me .GOD PROMISE i know the CURE.

[@niazwali8169]

Nice amazing

[@IrfanKhan-jv3ry]

Thank u sir