<Tr> <Th> Similar conditions </Th> <Td> Gastroenteritis, Irritable bowel syndrome </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine . Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the principal types of inflammatory bowel disease . It is important to note that not only does Crohn's disease affect the small intestine and large intestine, it can also affect the mouth, esophagus, stomach and the anus whereas ulcerative colitis primarily affects the colon and the rectum . </P> <Table> Signs and symptoms <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> Crohn's disease </Th> <Th> Ulcerative colitis </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Defecation </Td> <Td> Often porridge - like, sometimes steatorrhea </Td> <Td> Often mucus - like and with blood </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tenesmus </Td> <Td> Less common </Td> <Td> More common </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fever </Td> <Td> Common </Td> <Td> Indicates severe disease </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fistulae </Td> <Td> Common </Td> <Td> Seldom </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Weight loss </Td> <Td> Often </Td> <Td> More seldom </Td> </Tr> </Table>

The form of chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the ileum and/or colon is