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Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lifelong inflammatory disease of the gut (gastrointestinal tract). IBD is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s immune system starts attacking and causing inflammation and swelling in the gut. There are times when IBD symptoms are largely under control known as ‘remission’, which is followed by a ‘flare-up’ or ‘relapse’ where symptoms are experienced.1
1. Crohn’s and Colitis UK (2019). All about Crohn’s and Colitis. Available from: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk [Accessed May 2023]
There are different types of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD) and microscopic colitis (MC).1
1. Crohn’s and Colitis UK (2019). All about Crohn’s and Colitis.
Available from: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk [Accessed May 2023]
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. In UC, there is inflammation and ulcers in the large intestine, including the rectum. This can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, tiredness, stomach pain and blood in poo.2
2. Crohn’s and Colitis UK (2021). All about Crohn’s and Colitis.
Available from: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk [Accessed May 2023]
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. In CD, there can be inflammation anywhere in the gut, from the mouth to the anus (bottom). People experience Crohn’s disease differently; symptoms can include pain, diarrhoea, tiredness and weight loss.3
3. Crohn’s and Colitis UK (2021). All about Crohn’s and Colitis.
Available from: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk [Accessed May 2023]
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI)
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) bacteria usually live harmlessly in your gut alongside lots of other types of bacteria. When the balance of this gut bacteria (microbiome) is disturbed, it can cause an infection. The microbiome can become imbalanced, for example, in the elderly, or people who have taken lots of courses of antibiotics.4
4. Health Service Executive (2022) Available from: C.diff. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/c-diff/ [Accessed June 2025]
The most common symptom of CDI is watery diarrhoea, which can have a distinctive ‘sweet’ smell.5 Other common symptoms include high temperature, loss of appetite, feeling sick, stomach pain and dehydration due to the fluid loss through diarrhoea. 4
4. Health Service Executive (2022) Available from: C.diff. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/c-diff/ [Accessed June 2025]
5. Cleveland Clinic (2023). Clostridioides difficile infection [Accessed May 2023]
Serious infection with C. difficile bacteria can progress to fatal disease, resulting in death. There were 14,249 CDI cases reported in England between April 2021 and March 2022. In the same period, there were 1,910 deaths in England, within 30 days of CDI case (all-cause mortality).6
6. UK Health Security Agency. (2023) 30 day all-cause mortality following MRSA, MSSA and Gram-negative bacteraemia and C. difficile infections: 2021 to 2022 report. Available at: gov.uk/c-difficile-infections-2021-to-2022-report [Accessed April 2023]
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