What do you know about inflammatory bowel disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause swelling and inflammation of the tissues in the digestive tract.
The most common types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are life-long gastrointestinal disorders.
May is Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month.
Hosted by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA), this campaign gives Australians an opportunity to understand more about the reality of living with IBD.
We can help people living with these illnesses speak up about the day-to-day issues they face to reduce stigma and encourage others to seek diagnoses.
What is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease is a type of IBD that can cause inflammation anywhere in the digestive system.
The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract (the gut) and other organs that help your body break down and absorb food.
Inflammation can cause redness, swelling and pain, and is the body’s response to injury or irritation.
Crohn’s disease most commonly affects the small intestine. Crohn’s disease is a lifelong condition, and the intensity of symptoms varies between people.
There is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease but medicines, some diet therapies and sometimes surgery can reduce symptoms.
Crohn’s has little effect on life expectancy but can result in life-threatening complications. Most people with Crohn’s disease go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives.
What is ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis affects the inner surface lining (epithelium) of the large intestine (colon and rectum).
Ulcerative colitis is a lifelong condition; however, there may be times when there are little to no symptoms (remission) and times when symptoms are more active (flare up).
There is currently no cure for ulcerative colitis, but it can be treated and managed with medication and/or surgery.
Lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can also help to reduce disease activity. Ulcerative colitis has little effect on life expectancy.
Symptoms and diagnosis
In Crohn’s disease, inflammation can occur anywhere in the GI tract from the mouth to the anus. In ulcerative colitis, inflammation is limited to large intestine.
Crohn’s disease
People with Crohn’s can experience symptoms differently from each other.
The most common symptoms during a flare are:
- Abdominal pain
- Frequent diarrhea (sometimes mixed with mucus and blood) and need to use the toilet
- Tiredness, fatigue
- Raised temperature, fever
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Anaemia (reduced level of blood cells)
Inflammation in the gut can make it harder for the body to absorb nutrients from food, leading to many of these symptoms.
Less common symptoms during a flare are:
- Joint pain
- Mouth ulcers (sores)
- Eye inflammation (uveitis and episcleritis)
- Liver inflammation, such as Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
- Skin rashes
Ulcerative colitis
People with colitis can experience symptoms differently from each other.
The most common symptoms during a flare are:
- Abdominal pain
- Frequent diarrhoea (sometimes mixed with mucus and blood) and urgent need to use the toilet often
- Tiredness, fatigue
- Raised temperature, fever
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Anaemia (reduced level of blood cells)
Less common symptoms during a flare are:
- Joint pain
- Mouth ulcers (sores)
- Eye inflammation (uveitis and episcleritis)
- Liver inflammation, such as Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
- Skin rashes
- Hair loss
If you are experiencing any symptoms, book an appointment with your doctor here.
Treatment
Crohn’s disease
There are many ways to manage Crohn’s disease, and what works for someone else may not work for you.
The main goal of Crohn’s disease treatment is to reduce inflammation and symptoms.
Various medications are used to reduce inflammation. For more detailed information, see Crohn’s and Colitis Australia’s page on Medication and IBD.
Diet plays an important role in many aspects of Crohn’s disease, including treating active disease and managing symptoms.
Diet is important to treat many different aspects of Crohn’s disease. There are dietary treatments that may be used to treat malnutrition, symptoms related to active inflammation or bowel sensitivity, and for certain complications of Crohn’s disease.
Surgery for Crohn’s disease is a treatment not everyone will need. Sometimes parts of the bowel are too damaged to be healed by medications and the best way to return you to health is with an operation.
Many operations are now keyhole with quick recovery. The goal of surgery is to keep as much of the bowel as possible while restoring quality of life.
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis cannot currently be cured but for most people it can be well managed through medication, lifestyle choices and sometimes surgery.
There are many ways to manage ulcerative colitis, and what works for someone else may not work for you.
The main goal of ulcerative colitis treatment is to reduce symptoms, control inflammation and heal the bowel.
Various medications are used to reduce inflammation. For more detailed information, see Crohn’s and Colitis Australia’s page on Medication and IBD.
Diet has an important role to play in many aspects of ulcerative colitis, including symptom management, ensuring nutritional adequacy and potentially treating active disease or supporting remission.
Surgery for ulcerative colitis is a treatment not everyone will need. Sometimes parts of the bowel are too damaged to be healed by medications and the best way to return you to health is with an operation.
Many operations are now keyhole with quick recovery. The goal of surgery is to keep as much of the bowel as possible while restoring quality of life.
How to help
Shine a Light – World IBD Day
World IBD Day is just around the corner. This year, over 120 sites, landmarks and buildings across Australia will light up in purple as a show of solidarity for the IBD community. By coming together on this day, we can spark meaningful conversations about the realities of living with IBD. This plays a crucial role in improving care, raising awareness, and reminding everyone that they are not alone.
Shine a light at home! Help raise awareness locally by lighting up your house or garden purple. For example, hang purple fairy lights in your garden or program your smart globes to shine purple for the night.
Don’t forget to share your photos on social media and use the campaign hashtags – #FlushTheStigma #WorldIBDDay2025 #ShineALightonIBD
Other ways to help
You can participate in Crohn’s and colitis awareness month by sharing these promotional materials in person or on social media.
You can also fundraise and raise awareness of Crohn’s and colitis in your community or workplace. Find out more about fundraising for CCA here.
Learn more
Visit the Crohn’s & Colitis Australia website for more information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, support and advocacy.
Let’s come together to raise awareness of IBD this May!
