IBD refers to a set of conditions that results in irritation and an increase of tissues in the digestive tract. Examples of the diseases include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In IBS, the term refers to symptoms that manifest when contents in the large intestines move at a fast or slower rate. IBD is a structural disease because the condition can be observed using tests such as x-ray, endoscopy, or through biopsy, where tissues are examined using a microscope. When the patient suffering from IBS is assessed using tests like a biopsy, the results are unrevealing.
In IBD, the gut gets infected by long-term inflammation that lasts from months to years. As a result, symptoms such as malaise and fever manifest. Affected intestines bleed, thus resulting in a reduction of hemoglobin, leading to anemia. The patient loses weight due to the inability to tolerate feeds because of intestinal attacks and the bowel’s inflamed tissues (Roda et al., 2019). On the other hand, IBS has got no defining symptoms upon assessment through physical examination. However, some findings, such as a mass in the abdomen, fistulas, or anemia features, can be depicted.
For effective and therapeutic nursing practice, understanding the pathophysiology and of different conditions is critical in establishing one’s responsibilities such as treatment, medication management, improved assessment skills, and ordering of correct diagnostic tests. Also, general health management, prevention of diseases, and provision of quality nursing care will be part of my portion as a future nursing practitioner. For example, depicting the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease at my fingertips will differentiate the conditions and provide therapeutic interventions to my future patients. Given that my patient portrays symptoms of fever, malaise, and inability to tolerate feeds, l will suspect that the patient is at risk of malnutrition, weight loss and prepare to give effective intervention. I believe nurses should have adequate knowledge in the pathophysiology of conditions for effective nursing practice.
Reference
Roda, G., Chien Ng, S., Kotze, P. G., Argollo, M., Panaccione, R., Spinelli, A., Kaser, A., Peyrin-Biroulet, L., Danese, S. (2020). Crohn’s disease.Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 6(1), 1-19. Web.