INFLAMMATORY
BOWEL DISEASE - SCI & TECH
News:
What’s Inflammatory Bowel
Disease? Are processed foods and low fibre diets to blame?
What's
in the news?
●
A recent editorial in Lancet
Gastroenterology and Hepatology described South Asia, including India, as a new
frontier of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
●
Some studies have shown that IBD is as
common in north India as it is in the West.
Key
takeaways:
●
Changing
dietary habits, increased use of processed food and reduction in fibre intake
are responsible for IBD incidence in North India.
Inflammatory
Bowel Disease (IBD):
●
It is a group of chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
●
These conditions cause inflammation and
damage to the lining of the digestive tract, leading to various symptoms and
complications.
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The two main types of IBD are Crohn's
disease and ulcerative colitis.
●
Crohn's
disease:
○
It can affect any part of the GI tract,
from the mouth to the anus, but most commonly involves the end of the small
intestine (ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (colon).
○
The inflammation in Crohn's disease can
extend deep into the layers of the bowel tissue and may involve skip lesions
(affected areas separated by healthy ones).
●
Ulcerative
colitis:
○
This type of IBD affects the large
intestine (colon) and the rectum.
○
The inflammation in ulcerative colitis
usually begins in the rectum and spreads continuously up the colon in a
continuous pattern.
○
The inner lining of the colon becomes
inflamed, leading to the formation of ulcers.
Symptoms:
It can vary in severity
and may include
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Abdominal pain and cramping
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Diarrhea (which can be bloody in
ulcerative colitis)
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Weight loss and loss of appetite
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Fatigue
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Fever
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Rectal bleeding (common in ulcerative
colitis)
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Joint pain and inflammation
●
Skin problems
Cause:
The exact cause of IBD is
unknown, but IBD is the result of a weakened immune system. Possible causes are
as follows.
●
The immune system responds incorrectly to
environmental triggers, such as a virus or bacteria, which causes inflammation
of the gastrointestinal tract.
●
There also appears to be a genetic
component. Someone with a family history of IBD is more likely to develop this
inappropriate immune response.
Treatment:
●
Although there is no curative treatment
for IBD, it’s possible to reduce
inflammation and address symptoms with a variety of therapies.
●
The goals of treating IBD include stopping
future flare-ups and healing inflammation in the intestines, both in the lining
and on a deep cellular level.
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IBD treatments may include medications,
surgery and a range of diet and lifestyle changes that help reduce inflammation
and support the immune system.