Gastrointestinal Diseases: NWHIC

GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Inflammatory bowel disease describes two autoimmune disorders of the small intestine--Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

• Symptoms of Crohn's disease: Persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and general fatigue.
• Symptoms of ulcerative colitis: Bloody diarrhea, pain, urgent bowel movements, joint pains, and skin lesions.

In both diseases, there is a risk of significant weight loss and malnutrition.

• Treatment: Antidiarrheal pills or bulk formers for mild cases. For more serious cases, anti­inflammatory drugs are effective. Corticosteroids are reserved for acute flare­ups of these diseases. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove obstructions or repair perforation of the colon.
• Prognosis: With proper management, patients can continue to function normally. For patients who have ulcerative colitis, the risk of colon cancer increases with time. Physicians may recommend removal of the colon.

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Other Autoimmune Diseases