‘It can be life threatening' warns medics over common disorder that affects the digestive system
Advertisement
4
The immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive tract
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
4
Oonagh O'Hagan set up Symprove to support Irish people to achieve good gut health
Credit: StoryLab
And an estimated 40,000 Irish people suffer from IBD.
Crohn's disease affects people of all ages, and the symptoms usually start in
The main symptoms are diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, blood in your poo, fatigue and weight loss.
Advertisement
Read more in Health
The symptoms may be constant or may come and go every few weeks or months.
Ulcerative Colitis directly affects the colon and rectum.
The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel where poo is stored.
Small
Advertisement
Most read in The Irish Sun
Exclusive
Exclusive
The main symptoms are:
Recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus
Tummy pain
Needing to poo frequently
Lorraine host reveals health update after emergency surgery and having to pull out of live TV hours before going on air
People may also experience extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
IBD is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive tract.
And despite being chronic and incurable, IBD is not classified as a disability in Ireland.
Advertisement
CAUSES OF IBD
The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown.
Your genes - you're more likely to get it if a close family member has it
A problem with the immune system (the body's defence against infection)
Smoking
A previous stomach bug
An abnormal balance of gut bacteria
There's no evidence to suggest a particular diet causes Crohn's disease.
And ulcerative colitis is thought to be an autoimmune condition.
Advertisement
This means the immune system, the body's defence against infection, goes wrong and attacks healthy tissue.
The most popular theory is that the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria inside the colon as a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, causing it to become inflamed.
Exactly what causes the immune system to behave in this way is unclear but many experts think it's a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
TREATMENTS AVAILABLE
There's no cure for Crohn's disease, but treatment can help ease or control your symptoms.
Advertisement
Medicines are the main treatment and may include:
steroids to reduce inflammation - for example, prednisolone
immunosuppressants - if steroids do not help to reduce inflammation
biological medicines - if other medicines do not help
Treatment for ulcerative colitis aims to relieve symptoms during a flare-up and prevent symptoms from returning (maintaining remission).
TREATMENT
In most people, this is achieved by taking medicine, such as:
aminosalicylates (ASAs)
corticosteroids (steroid medicines)
immunosuppressants
Mild to moderate flare-ups can usually be treated at home. But more severe flare-ups need to be treated in hospital.
WORLD IBD DAY
Managing Director of Meaghers Pharmacy Group, Oonagh O'Hagan, took Symprove to manage her own IBS symptoms.
Advertisement
Symprove is a digestive health supplement that can provide relief from some of the symptoms of IBD.
Oonagh then set up Symprove Ireland to distribute the supplement to as many outlets as possible across Ireland to support Irish people to achieve good gut
She said: "We are proud to be partnering with Crohn's & Colitis Ireland to mark World IBD Day on Monday, May 19.
"Crohn's & Colitis Ireland does incredibly important work in supporting people who suffer from IBD.
Advertisement
"And I am looking forward to working with Amy to ensure that IBD sufferers – and those with IBS – know how to manage their conditions as effectively as possible, so they complement their medical treatment with supplements that can significantly relieve their symptoms."
4
Amy Kelly is the COO of Crohn's & Colitis Ireland
Credit: StoryLab
4
The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The 10 symptoms of deadly listeriosis infection as person dies and over 140 meals recalled from Irish supermarkets
OVER 140 ready-made meals and side dishes have been recalled from Irish shops due to health fears. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland Advertisement 2 Listeria monocytogenes is a potentially fatal bacterium that causes listeriosis Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 The infection can include several symptoms Credit: Getty Images - Getty And it emerged today that Nine cases of listeriosis have been confirmed in Ireland as of Tuesday, July 22. But how does listeriosis affect a person and what symptoms do we need to look out for? Advertisement Read more in News The infection can include mild flu-like symptoms or none at all, according to the Safefood says a person with a listeria infection can have fever, tiredness and headache. There can also be gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases the infection can be more severe and cause serious complications. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says that in immunocompromised and elderly individuals, the infection can occasionally spread to the central nervous system causing meningitis and/or septicaemia, with symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance or convulsions. How to protect myself from listeriosis? Protecting yourself against the fatal bacteria is vital, especially for pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. There are several measures issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre that can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the infection: Keep foods for as short a time as possible and follow storage instructions including 'use by' and 'eat by' dates Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, ensuring that it is cooked through to the middle Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods Wash salads, fruit and raw vegetables thoroughly before eating, or peel if appropriate Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after contact with uncooked food Make sure that the refrigerator is working correctly When heating food in a microwave, follow heating and standing times recommended by the manufacturer Throw away leftover reheated food. Cooked food which is not eaten immediately should be cooled as rapidly as possible and then stored in the refrigerator Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid eating high-risk foods such as: raw (unpasteurised) milk or foods made from raw milk, soft or mould-ripened cheeses (e.g. feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses), pâté and smoked salmon. If contact with ewes at lambing time is unavoidable for pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems, washing hands after handling animals should reduce any possibility of infection. Infected pregnant women may have no symptoms or experience only a mild flu-like illness. However, infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labour, meningitis in the newborn or even miscarriage. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is, on average, three weeks but can range between three and 70 days. Advertisement Diagnosis is usually made by culture of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid bathing the brain and spinal cord). During pregnancy, a blood test is the most reliable way to find out if symptoms are due to listeriosis. NOTIFIABLE DISEASE Listeriosis is a notifiable disease in Ireland, meaning medical practitioners are required to tell public bosses if a case comes to their attention. If you're concerned about symptoms and illness, contact your GP. Advertisement It follows a from Irish stores due to the possible presence of listeria monocytogenes. The full 141-strong list . The recalled branded prepared meals and side dishes were produced by Ballymaguire Foods, but are marketed under the labels of the stores selling them. POPULAR READY MEALS The list includes popular ready meals such as the Meals Made Easy, Beef Lasagne and Finest Cottage Pie, both sold in Centra Freshly Prepared Chicken Massaman with Sticky Jasmine Rice and Aldi Inspired Cousine Chicken & Broccoli Bake were also recalled following the alert. Advertisement Also included are The Happy Pear Shepherdless Pie, Creamy Veggie Lasagne and Chickpea Curry items. Ballymaguire Foods told 'UTMOST SERIOUSNESS' Apologising to customers, it added that "incidents of this nature are extremely rare for us". It said it is treating the outbreak "with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with all parties to manage the situation swiftly and responsibly". Advertisement On Saturday, July 19 it said it temporarily suspended all production at the affected facility and carried out a full pharmaceutical-grade clean-down operation, while production will resume when it is confirmed safe to do so. Ballymaguire Foods added: "Immediately upon identifying the issue, we informed our retail and food-service customers and engaged with all relevant authorities, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Health Service Executive, and our regional Environmental Health Officer. PRODUCTION SUSPENDED "Through our retail partners, all products are being withdrawn from the shelves, and a full consumer communication process is under way." As a precautionary measure Ballymaguire Foods said that on Saturday it made the decision to temporarily suspend all production at the affected facility, and that a comprehensive assessment and immediate corrective actions were carried out, including a full pharmaceutical-grade clean down of the facility. Advertisement It said production will resume at the facility once it is confirmed safe to do so. DO NOT EAT WARNING They are also encouraged not to eat the affected ready meals and to dispose of them or return them to the point-of- The FSAI added that recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale. Advertisement They continued: "Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale. "Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. "Caterers should not use the implicated products."
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Adult dies from listeria infection as ‘extensive outbreak' being probed as over 140 ready meals recalled ‘due to link'
A PERSON has died after contracting a rare bacterial infection, health bosses have confirmed. The adult was among nine confirmed cases of listeriosis, an infection usually suffered after eating contaminated food, in Ireland as of July 22. 2 The adult was among nine confirmed cases of listeriosis Credit: Getty Images - Getty The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is probing the death. Listeriosis is caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes and is a notifiable disease in Ireland, meaning medical practitioners are required to tell public health bosses if a case comes to their attention. Listeria is killed by cooking food thoroughly (until piping hot). The FSAI said in a statement: "A National Outbreak Control Team is currently investigating an extensive outbreak of listeriosis. Read more in News "A voluntary precautionary food recall of ready-to-heat meals is underway due to a link with the outbreak. "Nine confirmed cases of listeriosis have been identified as of 22 July 2025. "The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of and is investigating the death of an adult with confirmed listeriosis. "To ensure medical confidentiality, no further information on this patient can be disclosed. Most read in Irish News "The National Outbreak Control Team is chaired by the HSE National Health Protection Office and comprises the HSE National Environmental Health Service, the HSE Regional Public Health Services, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the National Salmonella "The investigation is ongoing and there is no further comment at this time." How to protect myself from listeriosis? Protecting yourself against the fatal bacteria is vital, especially for pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. There are several measures issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre that can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the infection: Keep foods for as short a time as possible and follow storage instructions including 'use by' and 'eat by' dates Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, ensuring that it is cooked through to the middle Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods Wash salads, fruit and raw vegetables thoroughly before eating, or peel if appropriate Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after contact with uncooked food Make sure that the refrigerator is working correctly When heating food in a microwave, follow heating and standing times recommended by the manufacturer Throw away leftover reheated food. Cooked food which is not eaten immediately should be cooled as rapidly as possible and then stored in the refrigerator Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid eating high-risk foods such as: raw (unpasteurised) milk or foods made from raw milk, soft or mould-ripened cheeses (e.g. feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses), pâté and smoked salmon. If contact with ewes at lambing time is unavoidable for pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems, washing hands after handling animals should reduce any possibility of infection. It follows a The recalled branded prepared meals and side dishes were produced by Ballymaguire Foods. The list includes popular ready meals such as the Meals Made Easy, Beef Lasagne and Finest Cottage Pie both sold in Tesco and the Signature Taste Potato Mash sold in SuperValu. Centra Freshly Prepared Chicken Massaman with Sticky Jasmine Rice and Aldi Inspired Cousine Chicken & Broccoli Bake were also recalled following the alert. They are also encouraged not to eat the affected ready meals and to dispose of them or return them to the point-of- The FSAI added that recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale. They continued: "Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale. "Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. "Caterers should not use the implicated products." 2 A person has died after contracting a rare bacterial infection Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
X Factor star reveals she's been diagnosed with debilitating condition and had surgery after years of pain
X FACTOR favourite has revealed she secretly underwent surgery after being diagnosed with a painful health condition that left her suffering for years. Advertisement 5 Ella Henderson revealed she has been diagnosed with endometriosis Credit: Getty 5 She shared her journey of chronic pain, getting her diagnosis and surgery with her followers on Instagram Credit: Getty The 29-year-old revealed she kept her agony private for years before finally undergoing secret surgery to manage the condition. Taking to Instagram, she told fans: "After years of struggling with confusing and challenging health problems including stomach bloating, bowel pain and heavy periods. "Plus countless GP appointments leading to scans, tests and the feeling that maybe the pain was all in my head, I was officially diagnosed with Advertisement more ella henderson "The revelation came after a laparoscopy, which found severe endometriosis behind my uterus and scar tissue affecting my bladder and bowel. "For those who are unfamiliar with this condition (just like I was only months ago) - endometriosis occurs when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. "The diagnosis was a difficult one to swallow but on the other hand it feels validating and empowering. "It meant I wasn't imagining things after all, and 1 could finally find a way forward and take control of my body. Advertisement Most read in Reality "My long journey to an endometriosis diagnosis is not unique. It takes on average up to 9 years in the UK, which for many like me, can put an immense mental and physical toll on you. "Living in What is Endometriosis "If health practitioners had recognised my endometriosis symptoms sooner, I might all that have been spared. "Although it took a long time (like many women out there) to finally get a definitive diagnosis, it has allowed me to receive appropriate and life-changing support. Advertisement "Which, in my case, was surgery, that so far helped to significantly reduce my symptoms. "Unfortunately, there is no actual cure for endometriosis, So ongoing management will likely be part of my life, whether that's through lifestyle changes, pain management, or other treatments. What are the symtoms of endometriosis? Some common symptoms of endometriosis are: pain in your lower tummy or back (pelvic pain) – usually worse during your period period pain that stops you doing your normal activities pain during or after sex pain when peeing or pooing during your period feeling sick, constipation, diarrhoea, or blood in your pee or poo during your period difficulty getting pregnant Source: "More research is still needed to understand the condition and ultimately find a cure. "Having now officially become among the one in 10 women in the UK with endometriosis, l am so aware of how many aspects of my life were significantly being impacted. Advertisement "As a teenager, I remember there were times I missed school due to severe "And more recently, I've needed time off work due to health issues which I've found difficult to explain. "I love my job and feel so lucky and grateful to be able to do what I do, so the thought of cancelling shows is something l've battled with. "I often pushed through intense pain just to maintain appearances, not wanting to be judged or let anyone down including myself. Advertisement "So why am I telling you all this? Put imply, I don't want future generations of women to go through what I did. "I know that my situation isn't unique, and too many women unnecessarily suffer with undiagnosed endometriosis for far too long. "That's why I am partnering with the charity "My hope is to be a voice for those still searching for answers and show those living with endometriosis that they're not alone. Advertisement "Endometriosis UK is working to reduce the shockingly long diagnosis time, calling on Governments across the UK to ensure menstrual wellbeing education is implemented in all schools. As well as improving education and awareness of endometriosis for all healthcare practitioners, including GPs, pharmacists and A&E doctors. "Without this education, those with the disease will continue to face challenges in getting a diagnosis and accessing the right care at the right time. "As part of their mission to reduce diagnosis times, Endometriosis UK has an endometriosis symptoms checker. Advertisement "In just 60 seconds you can find out if your symptoms could be a sign of the condition, and if they are, then an automated personalised letter is created with your symptoms to give to your GP. "And whether you have a diagnosis or not, the charity's experienced nurse-led support helpline team is ready to provide expert information and guidance. "Those are two really fantastic resources that I would definitely have benefited from when I was on my diagnosis journey & l wish I'd known about them sooner! "My ultimate goal here, like Endometriosis UK, is that want anyone living with this condition to feel a sense of empowerment and be enabled to take back control of their lives by knowing what is actually going on with their bodies. Advertisement "I believe it is so important that we begin to have more open conversations about "Spreading awareness and knowledge by having wider discussions on the matter is key. The only way we can feel more comfortable and in control is by sharing our own experiences. "For me, I have found a lot of healing and comfort within talking more openly about my own personal journey. Even if me using my platform can help even just one other person - it's worth it! E xx" Many thanked the Ghost hitmaker for speaking out, with one writing: "Thank you so much for sharing your story, it helps so much!" Advertisement Dozens more hailed her as an 'inspiration,' with fans sharing their own stories in solidarity. Another added: "Welcome to the Endo Warrior crew 💛 I'm so happy you found Answers. When I first got diagnosed I felt defeated but also happy they found a reason for my pain." A third penned: "Thank you for highlighting the fight we have as women to be heard and taken seriously about the pain that we go through on a monthly basis. Keep fighting & raising awareness." 5 The star became a household name after wowing the judges and viewers with her original song at her audition for The X Factor in 2012 Credit: ITV Advertisement 5 Ella said that more education is needed in schools about endometriosis Credit: Getty 5 Many thanked the Ghost hitmaker for speaking out Credit: Getty
