For Crohns and Colitis Awareness Week: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affect as many as 1.4 million Americans, most of whom are diagnosed before age 30. These chronic, life-long conditions can betreated but not cured. IBD can significantly affect patients’ quality of life and may have a high financial burden. By generating greater awareness of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) believes that more progress can be made toward finding a cure and reducing the significant impact of these diseases on individuals and the US healthcare system. What Are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases? Inflammatory bowel diseases are a group of inflammatory conditions of the intestines. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two inflammatory bowel diseases that cause chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is responsible for digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of waste. Inflammation impairs the ability of affected GI organs to function properly, leading to symptoms such as persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, rectal bleeding, and fatigue. With both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, patients go through periods of being symptom-free (remission) alternating with periods of having active disease symptoms (flare). While ongoing inflammation in the GI tract occurs in both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, there are important differences between the two diseases. Crohn’s disease Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. It most commonly affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) where it joins the beginning of the colon. Crohn’s disease may appear in “patches,” affecting some areas of the GI tract while leaving other sections completely untouched. In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation may extend through the entire thickness of the bowel wall of the affected area. Ulcerative colitis Ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine (colon) and the rectum. The inflammation occurs only in the innermost layer of the lining of the intestine. It usually begins in the rectum and lower colon, but may also spread continuously to involve the entire colon. Cause While the exact cause of IBD is not entirely understood, it is known to involve an interaction between genes, the immune system, and environmental factors. The GI tract normally contains harmless bacteria, many of which aid in digestion. The immune system usually attacks and kills foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms. Under normal circumstances, the harmless bacteria in the intestines are protected from such an attack. In people with IBD, these bacteria are mistaken for harmful invaders and the immune system mounts a response. Cells travel out of the blood to the intestines and produce inflammation (a normal immune system response). However, the inflammation does not subside, leading to chronic inflammation, ulceration, and thickening of the intestinal wall. This abnormal immune system reaction occurs in people who have inherited genes that make them susceptible to IBD. Unidentified environmental factors serve as the “trigger” that initiates the harmful immune response in the intestines.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:10:51 +0000
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