Did you know that November is Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month? These inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect a staggering number of children in Canada.
What causes it and what can be done to alleviate the symptoms?
It's not rosy for children and their parents to deal with intestinal diseases. These diseases affect the he alth, but also the morale of the children who suffer from them. To lead a normal life despite everything, you need to have resources, a lot of information and know how to take the right steps to avoid making the situation worse. We even have to look for ways to facilitate the academic success of some of these children who, depending on the severity of their symptoms, sometimes fall behind in school.
To mark Crohn's disease and colitis awareness month, we decided to share with you the situation in Canada, the symptoms and the resources you may need in the event of a possible diagnosis.
Symptoms
Do you ever wonder if your child has IBD? If so, he would have several symptoms. First of all,his digestion would probably be irregular, alternating between normal bowel movements and heavy diarrhea. He could also suffer from bloating, stomach aches and cramps. If this is the case for your child or if you have any doubts, do not hesitate to consult their doctor.
Record Rates
Crohn's disease is a serious disease and unfortunately Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates of IBD in children in the world. Even more alarming, the number of new cases of Crohn's disease in Canadian children has almost doubled since 1995. This is a good reason to be informed about this disease which is increasingly part of our lives.
How to prepare to meet the gastroenterologist?
If your child has IBD, you can prepare a number of questions to ask the gastroenterologist when you see him. First, you can learn about the medication and the cumulative effect of steroids to fully understand what your child is exposed to. You can also talk to him about the impact of these digestive diseases on your child's growth and activities. Finally, you will want to know the tests available to monitor the evolution of his disease.
A few resources to help you
If your child suffers from inflammatory bowel disease, there are many resources to help you find solutions to the most common problems and provide you with the information you need to avoid all the pitfallstend these diseases. Here are a few.
Crohn's and Colitis Canadaprovides helpful information, videos, events and webinars on food and nutrition, travel and more. They have also created a comprehensive resource for educators. This guidehelps teachers better understand IBD and highlights how symptoms and treatment can impact patients' he alth, behavior, and academic performance.
The Canadian Society for Intestinal Researchprovides, among other things, articles, videos, infographics and lectures on the range of diseases and disorders of the tract gastrointestinal. Contact them for a he alth care pledge or for printed resources including brochures.
The AbbVie Scholarship Programawards 10 scholarships of $5,000 annually to Canadian post-secondary students of any age living with Crohn's disease or colitis ulcerative. Unfortunately, too many students with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are forced to delay completing their post-secondary education because of their disease. Through this grant, AbbVie hopes to ease some of the financial burden of Canadians with IBD and empower them to live their lives to the fullest. Viewing webinars for young people, which aim to improve the lives of young people with IBD, can be beneficial for parents andstudents.
You can also subscribe to the magazine You, me and IBD by Robbie's Rainbow which will give you many tips and advice, in addition to explaining in simple words what that the treatments involve.
