Ask around in any Indian family and you’ll hear the same lines: “Bas gas hai,” “Mera IBS hai,” “Dahi kha lo, theek ho jayega.” Long-standing stomach trouble is often brushed off as “just IBS” or “acidity.”
That casual label can be dangerous when the real problem is something far more serious, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Dr Aditya Kulkarni, Consultant, Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital, Mumbai, explains what people need to know.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is very common and very real, but it is a functional disorder. The gut looks normal on tests, yet it misbehaves causing cramping, bloating, loose stools, or constipation. Symptoms are often worse with stress, irregular meals, or certain foods. IBS can be extremely uncomfortable, but it does not damage the intestine or stunt a child’s growth.
IBD is very different. In Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the immune system attacks the gut, leading to deep, ongoing inflammation. Over time, this can cause ulcers, bleeding, narrowing of the intestine, repeated hospitalisations, the need for surgery, poor growth in children, and even an increased cancer risk if left untreated.
In India, the two conditions are often confused. Many people rely on home remedies, ayurvedic “pachan” tonics, or over-the-counter acidity tablets for months or even years. By the time they see a specialist, the child may already be anaemic, underweight, and have missed years of normal growth and schooling.
There are clear red-flag signs that chronic “IBS-like” symptoms may actually be IBD:
Blood or mucus in the stool
Weight loss or poor height gain in a child or teenager
Night-time pain or diarrhoea that wakes a person from sleep
Fever, severe fatigue, or mouth ulcers along with gut symptoms
Lifestyle factors do play a role but not in the way social media often suggests. For IBS, regular meals, adequate sleep, exercise, fibre adjustment, and stress management can dramatically improve quality of life. For IBD, these habits support overall health, but they do not replace medical treatment aimed at calming the immune response and healing the bowel.
Another common issue in India is self-diagnosis. A young adult with chronic diarrhoea blames hostel food or exam stress. Parents dismiss a teenager’s poor appetite as “mobile addiction.” Months go by, and what could have been treated early turns into a medical crisis.
During Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month, the message is clear: long-standing gut trouble is not something to guess at. IBS is common and manageable, but IBD is serious and time-sensitive. If symptoms persist especially with any red-flag signs do not keep changing diets or doctors casually. Consult a gastroenterologist, ask directly, “Could this be IBD?” and insist on a proper evaluation.
