True or False?
1. There are up to 1.4 million people in the U.S. who have inflammatory bowel disease and at least 140,000 of them are under the age of 18. True or false?
2. Inflammatory bowel disease is an inherited condition. True or false?
3. The treatment of IBD is the same for both children and adults. True or false?
4. Diet and stress are the main causes of inflammatory bowel disease. True or false?
5. Most people who live with IBD are healthy more often than they are sick. True or false?
6. Some individuals can experience depression with inflammatory bowel disease. True or false?
(See answers below.)
Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is the chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease vary widely, but IBD commonly causes severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and rectal bleeding.
People with inflammatory bowel disease are tested on a daily basis, by the disease itself, as well as the misconceptions and misinformation that surround it. Patients with IBD need extra attention from their health care providers as well as a strong, knowledgeable support system.
For that reason, I’ve started an inflammatory bowel disease clinic within our pediatric gastroenterology office. The clinic is presently scheduled once a month. It’s a time when I can focus on my IBD patients and their unique needs. These patients require more time to discuss medications, nutrition and side effects of their disease as well as their emotional needs.
During this clinic, I see patients with a known diagnosis as well as those who’ve been referred for diagnosis and treatment because of their symptoms. I have a special interest in these patients and this clinic allows me to better concentrate on their needs.
I’ve also started a Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America monthly support group for patients and parents. For information, call the Kentucky chapter of CCFA, 1-877-283-7513. I hope to be able get more patients involved in the support group and look forward to watching this clinic grow over the next few years.
The UofL Physicians – Pediatric Gastroenterology office is located at 210 E. Gray St., Suite 802, in downtown Louisville.
To read more about UofL Physicians – Pediatric Gastroenterology, click here.
Those who are likely to have IBD and those who have already been diagnosed can call 502-588-2330 to make an appointment.
Answers:
- True
- False, although there is a genetic component
- False
- False, although stress and diet can aggravate IBD
- True
- True
