Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Week

A report released today to mark the start of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Week shows that these conditions affect more Australians than epilepsy or road accidents.

The Access Economics Report shows that inflammatory bowel diseases affect 160,000 Australians and cost the country nearly $2.7 billion a year in lost productivity, earnings, direct health costs and the impact of lives cut short.

The disorders that comprise inflammatory bowel disease – Crohn’s and
Ulcerative Colitis – cause the bowels to become painfully inflamed due to an inappropriate immune system response. In severe cases , the
conditions can lead to disability and death.

Inflammatory bowel disease is often confused with irritable bowel
syndrome, and it is as common as the far better known Type 1 diabetes and schizophrenia.

Chrohn’s disease is incurable and mostly suffered by women. Colitis
mostly strikes men and is only curable by major surgery.

For more information visit www.acca.net.au