Awareness During Crohn’s & Colitis Week
Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week is from December 1st -7th. This is a great time to shine a light on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and its prevalence in Turner syndrome. Crohn’s disease and colitis can have a significant impact on those living with these conditions and understanding them is an important step toward raising awareness.
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a group of conditions that cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. Unlike other forms of IBD, Crohn’s disease can develop in any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (Batista, 2023). Inflammation in Crohn’s disease often appears in scattered sections, with healthy tissue between inflamed sections. The inflammation in these sections can penetrate deep into the tissue layers of the GI tract (Batista, 2023).
What is Colitis?
The term “colitis” means inflammation of the colon, or large intestine. Colitis can be caused by infections, lack of blood supply (ischemia), or autoimmune conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (Geng, 2022). Ulcerative colitis is another main type of inflammatory bowel disease. Unlike Crohn’s disease, it only affects the colon, and the inflammation is continuous, meaning there is no healthy tissue between inflamed areas (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2022). The inflammation in ulcerative colitis tends to stay in the innermost lining of the tissues in the colon (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2022).
How are Crohn’s and Colitis Related?
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are distinct conditions, but share similarities including:
- Chronic inflammation: Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis cause long-lasting inflammation in the digestive tract (Wagner, 2024).
- Autoimmune component: Both diseases involve the immune system mistakenly attacking the digestive system (Ghouri et al., 2020).
- Symptoms: People with either condition often experience symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. In some cases, there may be blood in the stool (Wagner, 2024).
- Treatment: Both conditions are typically managed through medication, lifestyle adjustments, and in severe cases, surgery (Batista, 2023).
Diagnosis
If you are experiencing symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, it is important to ask your primary care provider to refer you to a gastroenterologist (GI). In the first visit with the GI (called an initial consult), the medical provider will meet with you in their office. The medical provider will review your medical history and conduct a physical examination. They may ask about your symptoms, family history of gastrointestinal diseases, and any recent travel or dietary changes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.).
Some people may feel uncomfortable discussing bowel-related issues, but it is very important to clearly communicate your symptoms. Keep in mind that these medical providers are professionals who want to hear all the information you can provide. The information you provide helps the medical provider determine the next steps in the diagnostic process.
Diagnostic Tests
If the medical provider suspects IBD, several tests may be performed to confirm the diagnosis, including:
- Blood Tests: These can help identify inflammation in the body and rule out other conditions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)
- Stool Tests: Stool samples test for the presence of mucus or blood in the stool (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)
- Endoscopy: An endoscopy is a procedure where a flexible tube with a camera is inserted into the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Some patients may be able to use new technology, such as swallowing a pill with a camera, to capture images of the GI tract in place of an endoscopy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.).
- Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy is commonly used to examine the lower half of the GI tract including the colon and the end of the small intestine. During this procedure, doctors may take small tissue samples, called biopsies, from the lining of the intestines. These samples are examined under a microscope to check for signs of inflammatory bowel disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.).
- Imaging Tests: Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasounds are all types of scans that may be used to get a clearer picture of the intestines and surrounding areas. These tests can help find and show any inflammation present in the intestines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.).
Turner Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting women, occurs when one of the X chromosomes is missing or incomplete (Turner Syndrome Foundation, 2024). Turner syndrome can lead to a range of developmental and health challenges, including a higher risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (Kavoussi et al., 2006). The altered or missing X chromosome in Turner syndrome may affect how the immune system functions, increasing the likelihood of it attacking the body’s own tissues. This makes women with Turner syndrome more susceptible to autoimmune conditions (Bakalov et al., 2012). The increased risk between Turner syndrome and autoimmune conditions highlights the importance of regular monitoring of inflammatory bowel disease in women with Turner syndrome. Early detection of inflammatory bowel disease can significantly improve quality of life (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). Identifying inflammatory bowel disease before it worsens is important, as timely intervention can lead to more effective treatment and a healthier overall outcome (Wagner, 2024).
For women with both Turner syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, maintaining a coordinated care plan is crucial. Regular check-ups with a gastroenterologist (GI), maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and open communication with all healthcare providers can help manage symptoms and prevent complications (Wagner, 2024).
Raising Awareness and Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can be challenging, but Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week serves as a reminder of the importance of community support, education, and research. This week encourages those affected by inflammatory bowel disease to share their stories and raise awareness about the symptoms, treatment options, and day-to-day realities of living with these conditions.
How You Can Help
- Spread awareness: Sharing information during Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week can help raise public understanding of inflammatory bowel disease and support those living with the condition.
- Join the conversation: Through social media or community events, adding your voice to the discussion can help people feel less alone and destigmatize the conversation around inflammatory bowel disease.
By focusing on raising awareness about conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and Turner syndrome, we can support people living with these conditions and contribute to a future with improved care and understanding.
For additional resources on living with IBD, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/communication-resources/index.html
References
Bakalov, V. K., Gutin, L., Cheng, C. M., Zhou, J., Sheth, P., Shah, K., Arepalli, S., Vanderhoof,
V., Nelson, L. M., & Bondy, C. A. (2012). Autoimmune disorders in in women with Turner
syndrome and women with karyotypically normal primary ovarian insufficiency. Journal of
Autoimmunity, 38(4), 315–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2012.01.015
Batista, D. (2023, January 24). Living with crohn’s disease or colitis. Mayo Clinic Health System.
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/living-with-
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Testing and diagnosis for inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov
/inflammatory-bowel-disease/testing/index.htmlÂ
Geng , C. (2022, January 7). What is colitis? types, symptoms, and treatment. Medical News
Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/colitis
Ghouri, Y. A., Tahan, V., & Shen, B. (2020). Secondary causes of inflammatory bowel diseases.
World Journal of Gastroenterology, 26(28), 3998–4017. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v26.i
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Kavoussi, S. K., Christman, G. M., & Smith, Y. R. (2006). Healthcare for adolescents with Turner
syndrome. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 19(4), 257–265. https://doi
.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2006.05.012Â
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, August 6). Crohn’s disease. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/di
seases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304Â
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, September 16). Ulcerative colitis.
Mayo Clinic.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/symptoms
-causes/syc-20353326Â
Turner Syndrome Foundation. (2024, March 9). What is Turner Syndrome?. https://turnersyndro
mefoundation.org/what_is_turner_syndrome/
Wagner, E. (2024, June 25). Crohn’s vs. ulcerative colitis: 6 symptom differences and
similarities (video). MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam. https://www.mycrohnsandcolitisteam.com/
resources/crohns-vs-ulcerative-colitis-symptom-differences-and-similarities
Written by Victoria Brown, TSF volunteer blog writer. Edited and designed by Kesha Amin, TSF blog coordinator.
© Turner Syndrome Foundation, 2024
