Inflammatory Bowel Disease, commonly known as IBD, is a chronic condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing persistent inflammation. Unlike a stomach infection or food poisoning, IBD does not go away on its own. It is a lifelong condition that requires specialist care, appropriate medication, and ongoing monitoring to keep symptoms under control and protect your long-term health.
IBD is not the same as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is a functional disorder, it changes how the bowel works but does not cause physical inflammation or damage to the gut lining. IBD causes actual structural inflammation and, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications including bowel damage, malnutrition, anaemia, and in some cases, bowel cancer.
Ulcerative Colitis affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Inflammation begins in the rectum and may extend continuously upward through the colon. The inner lining of the bowel becomes inflamed and develops painful ulcers.
Common symptoms of UC include:
Crohn's Disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, but most commonly involves the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. Unlike UC, Crohn's can cause inflammation through all layers of the bowel wall and may create skip lesions (patches of inflamed tissue with normal tissue in between).
Common symptoms of Crohn's Disease include:
IBD was once considered rare in South Asia. This is no longer true. Over the past two decades, India has seen a steady and significant rise in IBD cases, driven by urbanisation, changes in diet and lifestyle, reduced gut microbiome diversity, and increased antibiotic use.
Indian patients with IBD often present differently from Western patients. UC tends to be the more common form in India. Dietary triggers (spicy foods, certain vegetables), stress from academic and professional pressures, and delayed diagnosis, often mistaken for infectious diarrhoea or IBS, are common challenges faced by Indian patients.
"Early and accurate diagnosis is critical. Many IBD patients in India wait 2–5 years before receiving the correct diagnosis. Specialist evaluation can significantly shorten this delay and prevent irreversible bowel damage."
A definitive IBD diagnosis requires a combination of clinical assessment, blood tests, stool tests, imaging, and endoscopy with tissue biopsy. No single test alone is sufficient.
Diagnostic tests typically include:
Dr. Kiran Peddi performs colonoscopy, EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound), ERCP, and capsule endoscopy at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, one of the most comprehensively equipped endoscopy centres in Hyderabad.
IBD has no cure, but with the right treatment, most patients can achieve deep remission, meaning their symptoms are controlled, their bowel lining heals, and their quality of life is preserved. Treatment is highly personalised based on disease type, severity, location, and response to therapy.
5-Aminosalicylates (5-ASA / Mesalazine)
First-line treatment for mild-to-moderate Ulcerative Colitis. Available in oral and rectal forms. Reduces inflammation in the bowel lining and maintains remission.
Corticosteroids (Prednisolone, Budesonide)
Used to control acute flares rapidly. Not suitable for long-term use. Dr. Peddi applies strict steroid-sparing strategies to minimise side effects.
Immunomodulators (Azathioprine, 6-Mercaptopurine, Methotrexate)
Help maintain remission by modulating the immune response. Require regular monitoring of blood counts and liver function.
Biologic Therapies
A major advance in IBD care. Biologics target specific inflammatory pathways and are used for moderate-to-severe IBD or disease that has not responded to conventional therapy. Approved biologics available in India include:
Small Molecule Therapies (JAK Inhibitors)
The newest class of oral IBD therapies. Tofacitinib and Upadacitinib are available in India and are highly effective for UC. Dr. Peddi has published on the use of tofacitinib in UC and actively participates in clinical trials evaluating next-generation IBD therapies.
Surgery
A minority of IBD patients, particularly those with severe UC or complicated Crohn's, may require surgery. In UC, removal of the colon (colectomy) can be curative. In Crohn's, surgery is used to treat strictures, fistulas, or abscesses. Dr. Peddi works closely with a multidisciplinary surgical team to ensure surgery is only recommended when genuinely necessary.
| Experience | 28+ years in gastroenterology across India, UK, and Australia. One of the first gastroenterologists to establish a dedicated IBD centre in the united state of Andhra Pradesh (2010). |
|---|---|
| IBD Cohort | Over 2,000 IBD patients under active follow-up, one of the largest dedicated IBD cohorts managed by a single specialist in India. |
| Guinness Record™ | Guinness World Records™ title holder (July 2026) for the most people simultaneously attending an IBD awareness lesson, 578 participants. A testament to Dr. Peddi's commitment to public IBD education. |
| Credentials | MRCP (UK), FRCP (London), CCT in Gastroenterology, Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopy and IBD (Australia). MRCP(UK) Examiner. |
| Clinical Trials | Principal Investigator on multiple sponsored IBD clinical trials, giving patients access to cutting-edge treatments before they are widely available. |
| Technology | Founder of mygastro.ai, an AI-powered clinical decision support platform that generates personalised IBD care plans, ensuring every patient receives evidence-based, precision medicine. |
These are the questions Dr. Peddi's patients most commonly ask at their first consultation.
Q: Is IBD curable?
A: IBD is not currently curable, but it is very manageable. With the right treatment, most patients achieve deep remission, meaning their symptoms resolve, their bowel lining heals, and they live a full, normal life. The goal of treatment has evolved from symptom control to mucosal healing and prevention of complications.
Q: What is the difference between IBD and IBS?
A: IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) causes physical inflammation and damage to the gut lining, confirmed on colonoscopy and biopsy. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a functional disorder, the bowel behaves abnormally but there is no structural damage. IBD requires medication and specialist monitoring; IBS is managed with diet, lifestyle, and sometimes low-dose medications.
Q: Can IBD be managed with diet alone?
A: No. Diet plays an important supportive role, certain foods can trigger symptoms during a flare, but diet alone cannot control the underlying inflammation in IBD. Medical treatment is essential. A gastroenterologist and a dietitian working together gives the best outcomes.
Q: Are biologic therapies safe?
A: Biologic therapies have been used in IBD for over 25 years and have an established safety profile. They do carry a small increased risk of infections and require pre-treatment screening (including for tuberculosis). Regular monitoring is essential. For the right patient, the benefit of biologics, achieving remission and preventing bowel damage, significantly outweighs the risks.
Q: Will I need surgery?
A: Most IBD patients do not need surgery. With modern medical therapies, particularly biologics and JAK inhibitors, the need for surgery has decreased significantly. Surgery is considered when medical treatment has failed, or when complications such as strictures, fistulas, or severe disease arise.
Q: Can I get pregnant if I have IBD?
A: Yes. Most women with IBD in remission have normal pregnancies. It is important to plan pregnancy during a period of disease remission and to discuss medication safety with your gastroenterologist before conception. Some IBD medications are safe in pregnancy; others need to be adjusted.
Q: How often do I need follow-up?
A: IBD requires lifelong monitoring. During active disease, monthly or quarterly reviews are common. In stable remission, 6-monthly or annual colonoscopy surveillance is typically recommended. Regular blood tests to monitor medication safety and disease activity are also essential.
Q: Does IBD increase my risk of bowel cancer?
A: Long-standing UC and Crohn's colitis do carry a modestly increased risk of bowel cancer, particularly after 8–10 years of disease. This is why surveillance colonoscopy is an important part of long-term IBD care. Keeping the disease in remission significantly reduces this risk.
Dr. Kiran Peddi sees IBD patients at the following locations in Hyderabad:
Call to book: +91 93901 50150 / +91 95810 00505 | Email: contact@drkiranpeddi.com
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