Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract (IBD – from the English Inflammatory Bowel Disease)which many associate mainly with intestinal problems. However, up to half of the patients also suffer from extra -shaped manifestations such as osteoporosis, arthritis, psoriasis, but also neurological and cardiovascular problems.
On Tuesday, representatives of the Slovak Gastroenterology Society (SGS) and the Patient Organization of the Slovak Crohn Club pointed out on the occasion of the next week’s IBD Day IBD (May 19). As they said, arthritis and joint inflammation are the most common complications and occur in 30 percent of patients. The second most common are skin problems that affect about 20 percent of patients. They are manifested in the form of various skin nodes, blisters, anal cracks or psoriasis.
“Extra -terrible manifestations are not only painful and restrictive, but often remain undiagnosed or incorrectly treated, as their IBD is not self -evident,” The head physician of the Center for Specialized Treatment of IBD Polyclinic Bezručov in Bratislava Anna Gojdičová said. In addition, IBD patients are also at risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia, They have eye problems and also fight kidney stones, fatty liver disease or pancreas. Often the disease is also accompanied by anemia.
SGS President Tibor Hlavatý explained that There are approximately 28,000 IBD patients in Slovakia, a disease affecting especially younger age groups. Twenty -five percent of the disease, according to him, starts in childhood. “The cause of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is not unambiguous. In addition to genetic predisposition, factors such as lifestyle, stress or immune system also play a role,” explained Hlavatý. He added that thanks to modern treatment, the quality of life is currently very good in patients, although they must be treated lifetime.
Experts have pointed out that, in addition to symptoms, patients also face social problems. “In our patient organization, we have repeatedly encountered cases where patients are not granted a disability pension. It is clear – we are young, externally we look healthy, but the reality is completely different. IBD is a complex disease that significantly interferes with physical and mental health,” Veronika Ivančíková, chairwoman of Slovak Crohn Club, explained. She pointed out that patients face reality daily, such as surgery, wraps, side effects of treatment or long -term exhaustion, which she says is very difficult to live productive and active.
