Crohn’s & Colitis Glossary

Flare

When IBD symptoms reappear after a period of low or no activity. The symptoms can get worse over time or get worse suddenly.

Immune response

The way your body defends itself against substances it sees as harmful or foreign.

Indeterminate colitis (also known as IBD-unclassified)

A type of IBD that shares characteristics of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis but cannot be diagnosed as either.

Inflammation

Part of the body’s immune response to protect it from harmful irritants, viruses, and damaged cells. Without inflammation, infections and wounds would not heal.

Intestinal fibrosis

An excessive buildup of scar tissue in the intestinal wall.

Mucosal healing

A type of remission (absence of active disease) as seen during a colonoscopy (e.g., no ulcers and no bleeding).

Perforation

An abnormal opening in the bowel wall that allows bowel contents to escape or leak into another area of the abdomen. This will require immediate surgical intervention.

Pouchitis

Inflammation of the lining of the J-pouch/ Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (formed from the small intestine).

Remission

The period when inflammation and symptoms from IBD disappear, decrease, or are under control.

Stricture

An area of narrowing in the intestines.