Latest news with #inflammatoryboweldisease
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
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. 2 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. I was going to the toilet 40 times a day - FA Cup star opens up on his bowel disease torment 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. 2 "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. Signs of ulcerative colitis The main symptoms are: recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus tummy pain needing to poo frequently You may also experience extreme tiredness (fatigue), loss of appetite and weight loss. The severity of the symptoms varies, depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed and how severe the inflammation is. For some people, the condition has a significant impact on their everyday lives. Some people may go for weeks or months with very mild symptoms, or none at all (remission), followed by periods where the symptoms are particularly troublesome (flare-ups or relapses). During a flare-up, some people with ulcerative colitis also experience symptoms elsewhere in their body; which are known as extra-intestinal symptoms. These can include: painful and swollen joints (arthritis) mouth ulcers swollen fat under the skin causing bumps and patches – this is known as erythema nodosum irritated and red eyes problems with bones, such as osteoporosis In many people, no specific trigger for flare-ups is identified, although a gut infection can occasionally be the cause. Stress is also thought to be a potential factor. You should see a GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of ulcerative colitis and you haven't been diagnosed with the condition. Source: NHS
Medscape
24-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Liver Transplantation May Reduce Colorectal Neoplasia Risk
TOPLINE: In patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver transplantation was associated with a 34% reduction in the risk for colorectal neoplasia. However, 21% of transplant recipients still developed neoplasia. METHODOLOGY: PSC affects 4%-8% of patients with IBD, increasing their risk for colorectal neoplasia. About 40% of patients with PSC undergo liver transplantation, but the post-transplant risk for colorectal neoplasia remains understudied. Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with PSC and IBD from two sites in the United States, comparing outcomes between those who underwent liver transplantation with matched control patients who did not. All transplant recipients had at least one colonoscopy after the procedure. The primary outcome was the development of colorectal neoplasia, including colorectal cancer, low-grade dysplasia, or high-grade dysplasia. TAKEAWAY: The cohort included 979 patients (66% men; 83% with ulcerative colitis), of whom 320 underwent liver transplant and 659 served as controls; the mean age at IBD diagnosis was 32 years, at PSC diagnosis was 39 years, and at end of follow-up was 50 years. During follow-up, 21% of transplant recipients developed colorectal neoplasia compared with 26% of nontransplanted controls (P = .086). Liver transplantation was associated with a 34% reduced risk for colorectal neoplasia and a 44% reduced risk for both low- and high-grade dysplasia. Recurrent PSC in the transplanted liver was more prevalent in patients who developed neoplasia than those who did not (54% vs 38%; P = .017). Other predictors of dysplasia or cancer risk included older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.02), diagnosis of ulcerative colitis vs Crohn's disease (aOR, 1.63), and histologic activity (aOR, 1.61). Undergoing chromoendoscopy at least once was associated with a higher likelihood of developing colorectal neoplasia (aOR, 1.71). IN PRACTICE: 'Careful profiling of PSC-IBD patients before and after [liver transplantation] offers an important opportunity to define the mechanism(s) of IBD-associated [colorectal neoplasia] in patients with PSC-IBD. This may also have broader implications for prevention of IBD-associated colon neoplasia,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study, led by Nayantara Coelho-Prabhu, MBBS, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, was published online in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. LIMITATIONS: The data were primarily derived from referral centers, possibly leading to an overrepresentation of patients with more severe disease. The study did not assess the cumulative burden of endoscopic and histologic activity over the entire course of IBD. The lack of information on the type of immunosuppression used post-transplantation may also affect the findings. DISCLOSURES: One author received grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and the Chleck Family Foundation. Another author received a separate NIH grant. One author served on a scientific advisory board for Geneoscopy. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New Cambridge centre specialises in children with bowel diseases
A new centre focused on improving the lives of children with inflammatory bowel diseases has opened in Cambridge. The Cambridge Centre for Children's Gut Health will see cutting-edge research from scientists at the University of Cambridge, including the study of "mini-guts".The mini organs are created from the cells donated by children, which allow scientists to study the bowel diseases and identify potential new treatments. Matt Zilbauer, director of the centre, said children and young people were "enthusiastic" about helping to better understand their conditions. Professor Zilbauer, who is also a consultant at Addenbrooke's Hospital, hoped the new centre would help identify ways of personalising also wanted it to give children access to the latest drugs, clinical trials and outstanding clinical care. Their study of mini-guts with a team at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, showed DNA changes may play an important role in Crohn's publishing their study, the team recruited a further 500 patients and generated nearly 1,000 organoids. "To study these diseases, we need our children and young people to donate a few extra tissue cells when we're investigating their condition," he said. "We couldn't do our research without their help."The children are amazing – they're all really keen to help us and to contribute to finding new treatments, even when they know these treatments may not benefit them directly."The centre will also have a psychiatric Glemas, research nurse and patient engagement lead at Cambridge University Hospitals, said: "Inflammatory bowel diseases are lifelong conditions with no cure. "It's really tough for the children and young people we see, so it's important that we look after every aspect of their health. By looking after their mental health alongside their physical health, we hope to make their lives easier." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
TOWIE star is rushed to hospital during filming after ignoring her worrying symptoms for 10 years
TOWIE star C hloe Meadows, 33, was rushed to hospital during filming after she ignored her worrying symptoms. Chloe revealed she was so 'scared' of the doctors and the prospect of 'having any procedure done' that she ignored symptoms of a chronic inflammatory bowel condition for around 10 years. Speaking on the Bedside Manners podcast with Dr Oscar Duke, Chloe said she had several health checks at the age of 26, 10 years after her symptoms first appeared. Her mother also intervened and told her she should go to the doctor to get a blood test done as she looked 'grey'. Following her blood test, Chloe was filming scenes for the popular reality series when she received several missed calls from her father, who then texted her to say a doctor had advised she should go straight to A&E because her 'blood was so low'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. She said: 'I went to the hospital. I had to have all of these checks and these iron infusions, and that was where it started.' Chloe also revealed she had suffered from probably her longest flare-up after filming a nerve-wracking scene on TOWIE. Recalling how she first discovered blood in her stool at the age of 16, she said: 'I went to a college where I boarded when I was 16. 'I was staying away from home, and I was living in a student house, and there was blood down the toilet. 'I remember I told my mum, and I was like, "There's quite a lot of blood down the toilet. I'm not really sure what's going on," she was of course like, go to the doctors. 'I went to the doctors, and they said that I would have to have a colonoscopy, which is a camera into the bowel. Chloe added: 'At this point in my life, I had never really ever been to the hospital. I'd never been sick. I'd never had any procedure or operation. I'd never been sedated. 'I'd never had anything, and the doctor referred me, and I got this letter, and this is awful, but I got this letter, and I just never went to the appointment because I was terrified. She continued: 'Then I ignored it, and what would happen, which is what I realise now, is that I can go into remission, I can go into a flare-up in remission. 'It would stop for periods of time so that the blood would go away. I'd be like, "Oh, cool, it's gone away, I'm better. There's nothing wrong with me". 'I'd go through years where it wouldn't happen, and then it would happen again, and then it would stop again. 'I would probably lie to my mum about how much it would happen because she always pestered me about it, and I was like, "No, it's fine". Chloe admitted she was scared of having any procedure done, adding: 'I was also scared of what they were going to tell me. 'I was just terrified, which is not really a reason not to go to the doctor, but I think that's just what I thought. 'I was young as well, so I would forget when there wasn't blood down the toilet, I would completely forget.' According to the NHS website, Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. Symptoms include recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss. Some people with ulcerative colitis may go for weeks or months with very mild symptoms or none at all (remission), followed by flare-ups and relapses. Treatment options include corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and surgery. WHAT IS INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE? Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a medical term that describes a group of conditions in which the intestines become inflamed (red and swollen). Two major types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis affects the large intestine (colon) whereas Crohn's disease can occur in any part of the intestines. Symptoms may include: People of any age can get IBD, but it's usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40. The conditions are chronic and cannot be cured so treatment usually relies on medication and lifestyle changes to manage the symptoms, but may include surgery. IBD is thought to affect some three million people in the US, over 300,000 Britons, and 85,000 Australians.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong warned of surge in inflammatory bowel disease rates
The number of Hongkongers suffering from incurable chronic gut conditions could surge by 150 per cent over a 20-year period due to unhealthy diets, high in sugar and fat, according to a global study. Scientists from the study that was co-led by researchers from Hong Kong and Canada raised the alarm after a projection model estimated that the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the city would rise from 40 cases per 100,000 people in 2014 to 100 in 2034. 'The 150 per cent increase in the total number in terms of prevalence – this is quite scary,' said Professor Ng Siew Chien, associate dean of the Chinese University of Hong Kong's medical school and an expert in gastroenterology who co-led the study. 'We call this probably an explosion.' Researchers found that the rates were related to economic development and that less developed places, such as Malaysia and mainland China, had lower rates than Hong Kong, although they were also trending upwards. IBD refers to a group of conditions that cause swelling and inflammation of tissue in the digestive tract, with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis being the two most common types.
