This Sunday, May 19, 2019 is World IBD Day. IBD, kezako? Inflammatory bowel diseases affect 10 million people worldwide, 3 million in Europe and 250,000 in France.
These pathologies (of which 8,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, i.e. 1 per hour!) are characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract: Crohn’s disease can attack different segments of the mouth up to the anus, while Ulcerative colitis (UCH) is concentrated mainly in the rectum and colon.
At the present time, we still do not know the causes of these diseases that are seriously disabling on a daily basis – abdominal pain, frequent diarrhoea, loss of appetite, severe fatigue, fever… 20% of diagnoses concern children (the peak of diagnosis is between the ages of 15 and 35), in whom IBD can lead to slow growth.
Incurable diseases whose cause is unknown
Good news: research is progressing and many scientific studies are currently underway, in particular to elucidate the role of the environment in the development of IBD (pollution, food additives, lifestyle, etc.).
Until now incurable, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases are treated with drugs that act on the progression of the disease (corticosteroids, immunomodulators, etc.) and with surgery to relieve the symptoms (1 patient who suffers from the disease Crohn’s disease out of 2 is operated on every 10 years).
On the occasion of World IBD Day, many sporting events are organized throughout France to raise awareness of these pathologies which are still too often considered “taboo”. Zumba, fitness, dance, running, hiking… To find a sports outing near you, go to on the AFA Crohn RCH France website.
Read also :
A new drug against IBD?
Crohn’s disease: patients are more likely to suffer a heart attack
Soy concentrate for chronic bowel disease
