Doctor Clears Up Confusion Between IBD and IBS Symptoms
Rahway, N.J. – September 23, 2026 -- Patients dealing with prolonged diarrhea and abdominal pain often confuse inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), despite the two being fundamentally different conditions, according to a new editorial from MerckManuals.com by Dr. Aaron E. Walfish of Mount Sinai Medical Center.
IBD causes physical damage that IBS does not
Walfish explains that IBS is a functional disorder where the digestive tract looks normal but doesn't work properly. IBD, by contrast, involves chronic inflammation that shows up on a colonoscopy, imaging, or biopsy. Left untreated, IBD can lead to fistulas, abscesses, undernutrition, and a higher risk of colorectal cancer. Because it's a systemic disease, it can also trigger joint pain, eye inflammation, skin issues, and fatigue elsewhere in the body.