DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

Although the therapies for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are similar, it is important to differentiate between them because their p rognoses and responses to treatment may differ. Both diseases most com monly affect patients between ages 15 and 30 years, however. Ulcerativ e colitis is more common in children younger than age 10 and in non-sm okers. Crohn's disease may be associated with steady right lower quadr ant pain, whereas patients with ulcerative colitis tend to have crampy left lower quadrant pain. Skip lesions occur only in Crohn's disease. Diagnosis of Crohn's disease is best made by radiography; endoscopy w ith biopsy is the preferred diagnostic test for ulcerative colitis. In addition to distinguishing between Crohn's disease and ulcerative col itis, other causes of intestinal inflammation should be considered in the differential diagnosis because these noninflammatory bowel disease disorders require different types of therapy. Disorders that may mimi c inflammatory bowel disease include infection by bacteria or parasite s, drug-induced colitis, and other types of colitis. Several of these disorders do not require antibiotic therapy