Fistulas are commonly associated with which type of inflammatory bowel disease?

Fistulas are a significant and frequent complication associated with Crohn's Disease, one of the types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn's Disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to transmural inflammation that may extend through the bowel wall. This depth of inflammation can cause erosions and ulcerations, which sometimes progress to form abnormal connections, or fistulas, between different parts of the bowel, between the bowel and other organs, or even to the skin.

In contrast, Ulcerative Colitis, another type of IBD, tends to affect only the colon and rectum and usually does not lead to fistula formation because it is characterized by superficial inflammation. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder without the inflammation that causes fistulas, and Celiac Disease is an autoimmune response to gluten that primarily affects the intestinal lining and does not typically lead to fistulas. Thus, the association of fistulas with Crohn's Disease highlights the severity and complexity of the complications that can arise from this condition.