What is the difference between IBS and IBD? Take our symptoms quiz to find out if an antibody blood test for IBS is recommended for you.

Understanding the Differences Between IBS and IBD

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are two distinct health conditions that share some similar symptoms, but they are fundamentally different illnesses. IBS is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, while IBD is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation and damage to the digestive system.

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a long-term, chronic condition that causes inflammation and ulceration in the GI tract. The two main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In IBD, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the cells of the bowels, leading to inflammation and tissue damage. Symptoms of IBD can include diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, joint pain, eye irritation, and skin rashes.

Diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Diagnosing IBD typically involves a combination of stool tests, blood tests, and endoscopic procedures like colonoscopy. The goal is to determine the location and severity of the inflammation in the GI tract. Crohn’s disease affects the entire GI tract, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine and rectum.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional GI disorder that causes persistent abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, including chronic diarrhea and/or constipation. IBS does not cause lasting harm to the bowels and does not lead to cancer, but it can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The leading known cause of IBS is food poisoning, which accounts for at least 60% of diarrheal IBS cases. When a person gets food poisoning, their immune system produces antibodies to fight the infection. However, these antibodies can also mistakenly attack a protein called vinculin, which is critical for healthy gut function. This autoimmune response leads to gut nerve damage and disruption of the gut microbiome, ultimately resulting in IBS.

Diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Traditionally, IBS was diagnosed by ruling out other conditions, especially IBD. However, an antibody blood test can now directly diagnose IBS by measuring the levels of anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin antibodies, which are elevated in the majority of patients with diarrheal IBS symptoms.

Take the IBS Symptoms Quiz

Are you unsure if your symptoms are indicative of IBS or something more serious like IBD? Take our short quiz to find out if an antibody blood test for IBS is recommended for you.

What is the difference between the symptoms of IBS and IBD?

While IBS and IBD share some common symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain, IBD also involves additional symptoms like rectal bleeding, joint pain, eye irritation, and skin rashes. IBD is a chronic, autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and damage to the digestive system, while IBS is a functional disorder that does not lead to long-term harm.

How is IBD diagnosed?

Diagnosing IBD typically involves a combination of stool tests, blood tests, and endoscopic procedures like colonoscopy. The goal is to determine the location and severity of the inflammation in the GI tract. Crohn’s disease affects the entire GI tract, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine and rectum.

What causes IBS?

The leading known cause of IBS is food poisoning, which accounts for at least 60% of diarrheal IBS cases. When a person gets food poisoning, their immune system produces antibodies to fight the infection, but these antibodies can also mistakenly attack a protein called vinculin, leading to gut nerve damage and disruption of the gut microbiome, ultimately resulting in IBS.

How is IBS diagnosed?

Traditionally, IBS was diagnosed by ruling out other conditions, especially IBD. However, an antibody blood test can now directly diagnose IBS by measuring the levels of anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin antibodies, which are elevated in the majority of patients with diarrheal IBS symptoms.