Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises two lifelong chronic diseases characterized by episodes of remission and relapse: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. It is important to recognize that IBD is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and is not infectious. The cause for IBD remains unknown but it is thought to be the product of a complex interaction of multiple factors: a genetic predisposition and an abnormal reaction of the immune system to certain bacteria in the intestines, possibly triggered by something in the environment. Triggers such as viruses, bacteria, diet and stress have been identified but there is no evidence that any one of these factors is wholly responsible (Crohn’s and Colitis UK 2011).