Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis — Diagnosis & Treatment in Okeechobee, FL
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a term for two chronic conditions — Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — that cause ongoing inflammation of the digestive tract. In ulcerative colitis, inflammation affects the colon and rectum. In Crohn’s disease, inflammation can affect any part of the digestive tract, often in patches, and can reach deeper layers of the bowel wall. Both conditions cause flare-ups of pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, alternating with periods of remission. At Gastro in Florida in Okeechobee, Dr. Vikram Tarugu diagnoses IBD, manages flares, and provides long-term follow-up care.
Symptoms
IBD symptoms vary with the type and location of inflammation, but commonly include:
- Persistent diarrhea, sometimes with blood or mucus
- Abdominal pain and cramping, often in the lower abdomen
- Rectal bleeding or urgency
- Unexplained weight loss or reduced appetite
- Fatigue, fever, or night sweats during flares
- Anemia from chronic blood loss
Some people also develop symptoms outside the bowel, such as joint pain, skin rashes, or eye inflammation. Symptoms that persist for weeks should always be evaluated rather than assumed to be a passing stomach bug.
Causes and risk factors
The exact cause of IBD is not known, but it involves an abnormal immune response in the gut in people who are genetically susceptible. Family history is the strongest risk factor, and the conditions are more common in people of certain backgrounds and in developed countries. Smoking worsens Crohn’s disease, while stress, infections, and certain medicines can trigger flares. Diet does not cause IBD, but some foods worsen symptoms during flares. IBD is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome — it causes visible inflammation and damage that needs medical treatment.
How we diagnose it at Gastro in Florida
Diagnosis combines history, blood and stool tests for inflammation and infection, and direct examination of the bowel. A colonoscopy with biopsy is the key test: it shows the pattern and extent of inflammation and distinguishes ulcerative colitis from Crohn’s disease. An upper endoscopy may be used when Crohn’s disease is suspected in the upper digestive tract. Imaging may also help map disease beyond the reach of the scope. Colonoscopy and endoscopy are performed in our office endoscopy suite in Okeechobee with sedation, and biopsy results guide your treatment plan.
Treatment options
IBD treatment aims to calm inflammation, heal the bowel lining, and keep the disease in remission. Your doctor may discuss general anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating treatment plans, nutritional support, and, when needed, advanced therapies or referral for specialized care. Treatment is long-term and adjusted over time based on symptoms, lab results, and repeat examinations. Surgery may be needed for complications such as strictures, fistulas, or severe bleeding, and your gastroenterologist will coordinate that care if it becomes necessary. Because IBD increases the risk of colon cancer over time, regular surveillance colonoscopy is an important part of follow-up. This page is general education only; your treatment plan should be based on your own evaluation.
When to see a specialist
See a gastroenterologist if diarrhea lasts more than a few weeks, or if you have blood in the stool, persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or a family history of IBD. Seek urgent care right away for heavy rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain or swelling, vomiting blood, black stools, high fever, fainting, or inability to pass gas or stool — these can signal a serious complication that needs emergency treatment.
Related conditions: Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Rectal Bleeding.
For inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and treatment in Okeechobee, call Gastro in Florida at (863) 824-3447 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Vikram Tarugu.
Patients from Sebring, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, and across Central Florida visit our Okeechobee office for IBD evaluation and follow-up, and same-day appointments are available when symptoms flare.