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Crohn\u2019s disease and ulcerative colitis are types of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) \u2013 a long-term inflammation of the gut that affects men and women.<\/p>\n
Crohn\u2019s disease is most prevalent in women, whilst ulcerative colitis is generally more common in men (TH<\/span><\/a>). Both conditions have a reported hereditary link, with around 1 in 4 people with IBD<\/a><\/span> having a family history of the disease.<\/p>\n Crohn\u2019s disease specifically involves inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, usually the small intestine, but sometimes the large intestine and \u2013 rarely \u2013 the upper gastrointestinal tract. Whereas, in ulcerative colitis it is the lining of the colon and rectum which can become inflamed and ulcerated.<\/p>\n Both are painful and debilitating life-long conditions that can severely impact education, work, social and family life, particularly as individuals can experience unpredictable alternating periods of remission and\/or flare-ups, some of which can be life-threatening.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, there is currently no known cure for Crohn\u2019s or colitis, and the underlying mechanisms behind their development is not yet fully understood, so there is little known about prevention.<\/p>\n WATCH<\/strong>: Dr. Gil Y Melmed on the health burden and available therapies for Crohn\u2019s disease and colitis<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n That said, often symptoms and their impact on quality of life can be managed.<\/p>\n Crohn\u2019s and colitis symptoms include:<\/p>\n There are a number of treatments available to manage both conditions. Current therapies include anti-inflammatory medication, immunosuppressives, antibiotics or surgery (including colon or partial intestine removal). There are also a string of new therapies that are currently under clinical investigation.<\/p>\n WATCH: <\/strong>Prof. Jean-Frederic Colombel discusses the efficacy and safety findings from the U-EXCEED study investigating the JAK inhibitor, upadacitinib in moderate to severe Crohn\u2019s disease<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n WATCH:<\/strong> Dr Noa Krugliak Cleveland discusses the impact of early initiation of the integrin receptor antagonist, vedolizumab, in ulcerative colitis<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n WATCH:<\/strong> Prof. Marla C. Dubinsky discusses the LUCENT-2 study investigating the IL-23 inhibitor, mirikizumab, as a maintenance therapy in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis Part 1<\/a><\/span> | Part 2<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to the typical age of diagnosis, it generally differs for men and women; men are often diagnosed later in life than women \u2013 women are frequently treated sooner \u2013 meaning men are at higher risk of developing other conditions<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n WATCH:<\/strong> Dr Vipul Jairath discusses two treatment algorithms designed to reduce the risk of Crohn\u2019s disease related complications (REACT-2 trial)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n In the UK, 1 in 4 people are diagnosed before they turn 30<\/a><\/span> \u2013 and 1 in 123 people already have Crohn\u2019s or colitis<\/a><\/span>. Worldwide, IBD affects an estimated 10 million people, though experts predict this may be higher, especially if other western countries have similar ~1% prevalence rates to those reported in the UK and US<\/a><\/span> (in the UK, for instance, someone is diagnosed with Crohn\u2019s or colitis every 30 minutes<\/span><\/a>).<\/p>\n However, as Editorial Board member, Dr. Gil Y Melmed (Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA, USA) highlights<\/a><\/span>, people who suffer with Crohn\u2019s or colitis have symptoms that are invisible to the passer-by:<\/p>\n \u201cThese conditions are not rare, but they’re not super common either, and so on a societal level it’s very likely that you know somebody with Crohn’s and colitis, but you may or may not know.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n To help change that narrative, 1-7 December is <\/strong>Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (#IBDvisible)<\/strong><\/p>\n Because as Dr. Melmed points out, it\u2019s not just the symptoms that adversely affect people:<\/p>\n \u201c… people who are affected are often in the bathroom, talking about or dealing with abnormalities in their bowel movements and their bowel habits, and it’s not always easy or comfortable for people living with the disease to talk about it. So raising awareness allows for an opportunity to let everyone know that these conditions exist \u2013 to make it more normative in society to talk about some of the issues that people living with these diseases suffer from.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n touchIMMUNOLOGY supports Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week and its mission by providing online education to increase understanding of both these conditions, how they can be treated and enabling individuals to keep up to date with ongoing clinical research in the field.<\/p>\n Learn more by delving into our educational content around inflammatory bowel diseases<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n