Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two forms of IBD “inflammatory bowel disease”.
It is estimated that as many as one million Americans and approximately 170,000 Canadians have IBD. This disease can affect anyone at anytime. Its symptoms can include abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea. Severity and flare-ups can occur without warning, sometimes resulting in hospitalization and surgery, other times can stay in remission for years.
People are usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 – 25 and 45 –55, however, it can affect the very young and very old as well.
This disease is known to run in families and studies have shown that about 20 – 25 percent of patients may have a close relative also diagnosed with IBD.
Although symptoms of the disease usually occur in the intestinal tract about one third of patients will have what is called extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD. This is where any organ can be affected. The most common areas are large and medium sized joints; causing Arthritic flare-ups involving the spine and lower back. This usually runs its course even when the bowel disease is under control.
Crohn’s Disease usually affects the end of the small intestine (Ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (the colon) and may at times affect the gastrointestinal tract.
Ulcerative Colitis affects only the colon.
Both illnesses have one main feature in common. They are both caused by an abnormal response by the immune system. Our immune systems are composed of cells and proteins; normally they would protect the body from infection. The immune system of the Crohn’s patient reacts inappropriately. Researchers believe the immune system mistakes microbes (for example the bacteria that is usually found in the intestines) as a foreign invading material that launches an attack. This causes the body to send white blood cells into the lining of the intestine where they cause chronic inflammation. The cells generate harmful products that eventually lead to ulcerations and bowel injury. This is when the patient experiences the inflammation of bowel disease. All areas of the intestine may be affected and there can be healthy normal bowel in between areas of the diseased bowel.
This illness is not life threatening but can cause a lot of discomfort resulting in making life and nutritional changes.
For more information on medications, treatments and diets etc. go to
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Written by: Sylvia: Jan 22, 2007
Written by Sylvia McGrath March, 2009
**Please note: that this is just to serve as an information resource, this is not to be used for diagnosis. If you have any medical concerns or questions, please see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
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