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Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and its sister disease Crohn’s Disease (CD) have been on the rise in the
Western world. They are auto-immune illnesses where the body perceives the intestinal lining to be
foreign and hence body’s defenses to mount a response resulting in injury to the lining. It usually
presents itself with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss/bleeding in addition to other symptoms.
Prompt diagnosis based on a detailed workup identifies the underlying cause. Subsequently,
appropriate therapies help alleviate or treat this difficult presentation.
Prompt recognition and treatment is the cornerstone of care. Many cases can be managed by
specialized anti-inflammatory medications and the more severe cases may require biologics,
specialized treatments to block the inflammatory response.
The management is rapidly evolving and we strongly recommend our patients to join the Crohn’s and
Colitis Foundation (CCFA) to learn about the challenges and the changes happening in the treatment of
these illnesses. Unlike when I started my training four decades ago, IBD patients now have normal life
expectancy and live full lives with minimal or no symptoms.
