Some of us may have heard the word Crohn’s disease and Colitis, but what does it mean exactly? Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are diseases that inflame the lining of gastrointestinal tract and disrupt the body’s ability to digest food, absorb nutrition, and eliminate waste in a healthy manner. Inflammation from Crohn’s can affect the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus, but usually affects the lower part of the small bowel and the upper colon as well as the mesentery (tissues that holds the intestines to the abdomen). Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, is more localized in nature than Crohn’s disease. It affects the large intestine, rectum, and anus, and only inflames the inner lining of the bowel tissue.
Both diseases may exhibit similar signs and symptoms which include abdominal pain and cramping; severe diarrhea; rectal bleeding; blood in stool; weight loss and diminished appetite. However, females are more likely than males to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, whereas the risk for being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis is the same across genders. Studies also showed that people with inflammatory bowel disease are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis, probably due to the medication, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies. There are no existing cures for Crohn’s disease, whereas a colectomy or removal of the colon, may be considered ‘curative’ and induce remission in ulcerative colitis.
Visit the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada website at crohnsandcolitis.ca to learn more about these conditions. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is the only national, volunteer-based charity focused on finding the cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the lives of children and adults affected by these diseases.