Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week runs every year on the 1-7th December, where Crohn’s and Colitis UK work hard to make these forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease less of an invisible illness by improving peoples understanding of the condition.
The charity are yet to announce activities for 2022 – check back for updates.
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are largely thought of as a bowel disease but it is actually a more complex autoimmune condition with a range of debilitating symptoms. Severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea are the two most common symptoms but sufferers can also experience fatigue, weight loss, swollen joints and joint pain, eye and skin problems and liver issues.
Both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are on the rise in younger people with those in their teens and early twenties becoming diagnosed.
The sometimes uncontrollable symptoms and tough biological and surgical treatments needed means that many young people are missing out on education and work opportunities and leading increasingly isolated lives due to their condition. This can also lead to depression and anxiety.
There is currently no known cure for either of these conditions.
To find out more about Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, visit the Crohn’s and Colitis website to see what events are going on locally to you.
Help the Bladder and Bowel Community make a noise about Crohn’s and Colitis, share your story this week by emailing us of your experience with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and we’ll post on our website and social media.
Send your story to help@bladderandbowel.org – we look forward to hearing from you.
