30-06-2025
Boy, 18, left with horrific bowel disease for life after hay fever tablets wreaked havoc in his gut
Plus, the signs of the boy's condition to look out for
PILL PERIL Boy, 18, left with horrific bowel disease for life after hay fever tablets wreaked havoc in his gut
CHRONIC use of popular medications may lead to inflammatory bowel disease, experts have warned.
Their warning comes after an 18-year-old boy' s daily use led to him developing colitis.
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The boy's case highlights the adverse effects associated with chronic NSAID use
Credit: Getty
The teenage boy had been dealing with debilitating daily headaches and decided to self-treat with daily over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
NSAIDs are a class of medications used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.
They're commonly used for conditions like headaches, menstrual cramps, sprains, strains, and arthritis, with common examples including ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.
In a report published in Cureus, medical experts detailed how the boy had also been taking diphenhydramine for seasonal allergies - which is a combination of an antihistamine and NSAID.
More than two years after taking the pills daily, he began experiencing hematochezia - bleeding from the rectum - and fatigue.
He had no significant past medical history, but revealed to doctors he'd been taking 600mg of over-the-counter NSAIDs two times a day.
A colonoscopy revealed significant mucosal inflammation in his colon, suggestive of colitis due to chronic NSAID use, which led to him being officially diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Colitis is one of the main types of IBD.
Doctors discharged the boy after his vital signs (heart rate and blood pressure) showed to be stable.
He was given oral oral prednisone and mesalamine for IBD, was advised to discontinue NSAID use, and was instructed to return in six weeks for a repeat colonoscopy.
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But he ultimately failed to follow up.
The authors of the report wrote: "This case highlights the adverse effects associated with chronic NSAID use."
They added: "Although the patient was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, the absence of a strong family history and the presence of chronic NSAID use raise the possibility of drug-induced colitis.
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A colonoscopy revealed significant mucosal inflammation in his colon, suggestive of colitis due to chronic NSAID use
Credit: cureus
"This underscores the importance of obtaining a detailed medication history and ensuring close outpatient follow-up."
What is colitis?
Colitis, or ulcerative colitis as it's also known, is where the colon and rectum become inflamed.
The exact cause is unknown, although it's thought to be the result of a problem with the immune system.
Inherited genes may also be a factor of the development of the condition - you may be more likely to have it if you have a close relative with the condition.
And where and how you live could affect your chances.
The NHS advises: "The condition is more common in urban areas of northern parts of western Europe and America.
"Various environmental factors that may be linked to uclerative colitis have been studied, including air pollution, medicine and certain diets.
"Although no factors have so far been identified, countries with improved sanitation seem to have a higher population of people with the condition.
"This suggests that reduced exposure to bacteria may be an important factor."
NSAIDs, some heart and migraine medications, hormone medicines, and antibiotics have previously been linked to colitis.
