By Amina Abdul Salam Inflammatory bowel disease refers to two disorders, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. On the occasion of World Inflammatorybowel Disease Day ((IBD), a number of Egyptian experts are raising awareness on the increase of both diseases. In IBD, the normal immune response is overactive in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract within the digestive system. This causes inflammation of the GI tract, which can result in swelling, blockage, and infections. There is no known cause for UC or CD, although many researchers believe that the interaction between genes, the body's immune system, and environmental factors may play a role. Often diagnosed during young adulthood, UC and CD are debilitating diseases that patients have to manage throughout their lives. Dr Ossama Ebada, a Professor of Internal Medicine and gastro-enterology, Alexandria University says that living with these conditions has a major impact on a patient's physical and emotional wellbeing, and can greatly affect social interactions with family life, work or studies. There are high unmet needs and challenges that people face, especially in managing the disease progression. Gaining further insight into the complex science of these diseases and continuing the development of new treatment options is of critical importance. UC impacts only on the colon and rectum, which is the large intestine, and is marked by ulcers (open sores). The most common symptoms of UC include abdominal discomfort and blood or pus in diarrhea. On the other hand, CD can impact on any part of the digestive tract. Common symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever. If IBD is suspected based on someone's symptoms and medical history, a series of tests is used to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include a blood test, stool sample, endoscopic procedure and an imaging procedure. Treatment may take the form of medications, surgery, nutritional supplementation, or a combination of these options.The goals of treatment are to induce remission, prevent disease flare-ups, and improve the quality of life. Maged Kamel, Executive Director Medical and Regulatory at Takeda Near East, Middle East and Africa, says that the company aims to improve the lives of patients with gastrointestinal diseases through the delivery of innovative medicines that target the underlying disease drivers.
