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Crohn's and colitis

Crohnsdiseasecausesinflammationofthefullthicknessofthebowelwallandmayinvolveany partofthedigestivetractfromthemouthtotheanus.Ulcerativecolitisisinflammationconfinedto theinnerliningofthelargebowel(colonandrectum).Thesediseasesarecommonlycalled inflammatoryboweldisease(IBD).IBDtendstodevelopbetween15and30yearsofagebutcan startatanyage.Thereisamarkedincreaseinthenumberofchildrenundertheageofnineyears nowdevelopingCrohnsdisease.Itisestimatedthatabout43,000AustralianshaveIBD(30,000 withCrohnsand13,000withcolitis). Physical effects are varied Everyoneisdifferentintheirresponsetothedisease.Theseverityofsymptomswillvaryfromtime totimeandfrompersontoperson. IBDisnotclassedasaprogressivedisease,ratherflareupscanrangefrommildtosevereand backtomildagain.Somepeoplewillexperienceperiodsofrelieffromsymptomsinbetweenflareups. Thereisnowaytopredictforhowlongapersonwillstayfreefromsymptoms,orwhenthenext flareupwilloccur.Someflareupswillsettledownrelativelyquicklywithtreatment.Onother occasions,itmaytakemonthsforsymptomstorespondtothetreatment. IBDinterfereswithnormalbodyfunctionsandsomeofthesignsandsymptomscaninclude: Painintheabdomen Weightloss Diarrhoea(sometimeswithbloodandmucus) Tiredness Constipation Malnutrition Nausea Vomiting Delayedorimpairedgrowthinchildren

Ima ge des crip

The cause is unknown ThecauseofulcerativecolitisandCrohnsdiseaseisunknown.SomescientistsbelieveIBDcould beduetoadefectinthebodysimmunesystem.Othersfeelthatinfectionbyabacteriumorvirus maybeimportant.StressordietisnotthoughttobeinvolvedinthecauseIBD.Thesediseasesare notcontagious. Various treatment options are possible ThereareavarietyoftestsneededtodiagnoseIBD.Theyinclude:bloodtests,faecal(bowel motion)examination,x-raysandcolonoscopyandgastroscopyprocedures.Thetypeoftreatment dependsonwhetheryouhaveulcerativecolitisorCrohnsdisease. TreatmentforCrohn'sdiseaseandulcerativecolitismayinclude: Drugstoreducethechancesofarelapseoncethediseaseisinremission. Steroid(cortisone)medication. Drugstoreducetheactivityoftheimmunesystem. Correctivesurgeryforcomplications.

People with IBD may need nutritional supplements Sincethecauseisunknown,thereisnocureorwaytopreventIBD.ApersonwithIBDneedsto eatahealthybalanceddiet.Nutritionalsupplements,regularvitaminsupplementsorvitaminB12 injectionsmightberequired.Somepeoplefindthatcertainfoods-commonlyhighfibre,spicyor fattyfoods-maketheirdiarrhoeaworseandneedtobelimited.

Crohn'sandcolitis

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People with IBD can lead a normal life PeoplewithIBDleadusefulandproductivelives,eventhoughtheyneedtotakemedications. Whentheyarenotexperiencingaflareupoftheirdisease,theyfeelquitewellandareoftenfreeof symptoms. PeoplewithIBDcanmarry,enjoysexualactivityandhavechildren.Theycanholddownjobs,care forfamiliesandenjoysportandrecreationalactivities.Inshort,theycanleadnormallives. EventhoughthereisnocureforIBD,currentmedicaltherapyhasimprovedthehealthandquality oflifeofmostpeoplewithCrohnsdiseaseandulcerativecolitis.Thereisgoodreasontobelieve thatresearchunderwaytodaywillleadtofurtherimprovementsinmedicalandsurgicaltreatment ofIBDandoracure. Where to get help Seeyourdoctorandobtainareferraltoaspecialist(gastroenterologist). Arrangeanemergencyplanofactionwithyourspecialist,includingafterhoursphone numbers. ContacttheAustralianCrohns&ColitisAssociation(ACCA)forinformation,advice,support services,andmembershipinformation.Tel.(03)98151266ortollfree1800138029.

Things to remember

Ulcerativecolitisislocatedonlyinthelargebowel(colonandrectum). Crohnsdiseasecanappearinanypartofthedigestivetractfrommouthtoanus. Dietsupplementsorvitamininjectionsmayberequired. Thereisnocure-medicaltreatmentcanonlyhelpsuppressthesymptoms.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

AustralianCrohn's&ColitisAssociation(ACCA)

Copyight 1999/2009StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission. ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

Crohn'sandcolitis

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