Latest news with #Crohn
The Age
a day ago
- Health
- The Age
‘I thought my life would change': Overcoming an invisible disease to get back into sport
Two years ago, 15-year-old Sienna Warren was diagnosed with severe Crohn's disease. She has also had colitis, or inflammation of the large intestine. The diagnosis has meant months away from school and a slowing down of the active life she led before. 'I still get pretty bad brain fog that interferes with school, and fatigue which interferes with activities I want to do,' Sienna says. 'I love crafts, I love singing, I love dancing, I would love to do drama, but I just can't. And it's hard to do sport in school.' There are two main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Crohn's disease and colitis. The main symptoms and complications include fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. An estimated 180,000 Australians live with IBD, about 5240 of whom are children and 21,590 are young adults aged 19 to 29. The disease can hinder or prevent people from doing things many of us take for granted, like dating or attending school or work. It can also make it difficult for people, like Sienna, to play sport. According to the latest State of the Nation Report, published by Crohn's & Colitis Australia earlier this year, 21 per cent of adults and 18 per cent of children with IBD had severe problems with, or were unable to participate in, sport. Invisible disease Sienna says IBD is an 'invisible disease', and that more education is needed to help the public better understand its impact. 'We're looking at disabilities in school, but all the disabilities they're looking at are visible disabilities and visible impairments. It's not enough,' she says.
The Star
a day ago
- Health
- The Star
Bet you didn't know there's a link between the mouth and digestive problems
For many of us, oral health is only a concern when tooth or gum pain occurs. Otherwise, regular dental checks are easily dismissed. However, this neglect can lead to a cascade of issues that include worsening cavities and gum disease as well as heightened risk for digestive problems. This might come as a surprise as the mouth and the gut appear to be completely separate. Professor Seow Liang Lin, dean of IMU University's School of Dentistry explained, 'Bacteria from gum disease can cross the blood barrier and survive gastric juices, allowing it to populate the gut and affect the balance of good gut bacteria that help with digestion. 'It is medically well-established that patients with gum disease are more likely to have inflammatory conditions of the gut such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn's disease.' She added: 'The oral cavity and the gut harbour some of the most dense and diverse microbial communities; they share a common factor, which is the presence of good and bad bacteria that usually exist in balance. 'However, this balance can be disrupted by many factors, such as the presence of oral bacteria in the gut which releases toxins that trigger inflammation, while suppressing the good bacteria that helps to fight inflammation.' Similarly, digestive health issues can also have an impact on oral health. For example, the backflow of acidic stomach juices in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) can erode teeth enamel, leading to thinning of tooth structure, irreversible tooth damage and sensitivity. Moreover, tooth loss has been found to be associated with a lower relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, which secretes short-chain fatty acids believed to have systemic anti-inflammatory effect. 'The relationship between oral health and gut health is more direct than most people realise, and oral health is more important than you think, because it can have an impact on your overall health and well-being. 'The oral cavity acts as a gateway for microbial colonisation, shaping the composition of subsequent microbial communities along the respiratory and digestive systems. 'Dental problems such as decay and gum diseases that have gone unnoticed may eventually lead to tooth loss and result in difficulty in chewing. 'This, in turn, may affect a person's food choices, such as avoiding meats or vegetables in favour of processed foods that are easier to bite into, and lead to malnutrition or constipation,' said Prof Seow. Another factor affecting oral health is smoking, which disrupts gum health in the oral cavity, triggers inflammatory responses in the mouth and reduces blood supply to the gums, leading to gum inflammation. Oral health redefined With ongoing research, more connections between oral health and other diseases may be established, but the existing data on gut health is already compelling and a good reminder to make oral health an important aspect of health. This means getting regular check-ups to detect problems early, when they can still be remedied e.g. tooth decay can cause sensitivity or pain, and thus prompt a visit to the dentist. However, gum disease can often progress without any pain and symptoms like bleeding are often ignored. Over time, the underlying bone structure will be compromised and the tooth become loose. By then, there is nothing that can be done to reverse it, pointed out Prof Seow. 'The usual advice is to see your dentist at least once a year but it is more relevant to look at your risk factors. 'If you have been practicing good oral hygiene and have no known issues, annual check-ups might be sufficient. 'However, the presence of tooth decay or gum disease, or the use of braces or other prosthesis that easily retain plaque, may require more regular attention, perhaps twice a year or even quarterly, depending on your dentist's recommendation,' she said. Prof Seow advocates making your dentist your trusted ally. 'Having a regular dentist who is familiar with your history can encourage more open discussion and education on oral care solutions that are relevant and effective for you,' she concludes.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Nutrition Replacements Fully Funded For Adults With Crohn's Disease Who Use Them As Their Only Source Of Nutrition
Pharmac is fully funding two brands of liquid nutrition replacements for adults with Crohn's disease who use them as their only source of nutrition. The nutrition replacements are Ensure Plus and Fortisip (200ml bottles, 1.5kcal/ml) and changes to funding will take place from 1 July 2025. Adrienne Martin, Pharmac's Manager Pharmaceutical Funding says, 'we are removing the additional cost on Ensure Plus and Fortisip so adults with Crohn's disease, who use them as their only source of nutrition, can continue to access and benefit from fully funded treatment.' Crohn's is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Some people with this condition use these nutrition replacements as their exclusive diet for a period of 4–12 weeks. The goal of this exclusive diet is to rest the gut, to reduce inflammation and promote healing. This also may help manage symptoms and reduce the likelihood of needing surgery. A different fully funded nutrition replacement was previously available for these people, but the supplier stopped making it. 'We are grateful to those who provided feedback to our proposal and shared it with their community. Having this additional information from clinicians and the community helps with our decisions.' "Our role is to help people access the medicines and related products they need to improve their health. We estimate around 200 adults with Crohn's disease will benefit from the funding each year." says Martin
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Cricket star's daughter, 21, ‘could have been saved' having visited hospital ‘multiple times', rules inquest
THE daughter of a former England cricketer would not have died if doctors and paramedics had acted faster, a coroner ruled today. Bethan Amy James, 21 , daughter of ex-England and Glamorgan batsman Steve James, died from sepsis after being sent home from hospital multiple times in the days before her death. 3 Bethan Amy James died aged 21 on February 9, 2020 Credit: Wales News Service 3 Ex-England cricket star Steve James' daughter could have been saved Credit: Wales News Service Despite repeated visits to A&E, she was discharged while still seriously unwell. She collapsed at home on February 8, 2020. Paramedics were called but delays and a lack of urgency meant she was not treated quickly enough. By the time she was finally seen in hospital, Bethan was gravely ill and died within hours. Read more on sepsis Her dad Steve had been in Dublin covering the Six Nations match between Wales and Ireland, but due to weather delays, was unable to get back in time to see her before she passed away. An inquest heard ambulance crews struggled to insert a line, failed to call for urgent backup, and didn't alert the hospital to her worsening condition. Bethan was taken to University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, but instead of being rushed into resus, she was taken to the 'majors' unit where medics failed to grasp how sick she was. Only after a high lactate reading - a sign the body isn't getting enough oxygen and could be shutting down - taken an hour later, did senior doctors intervene. Most read in Health Senior Coroner Patricia Morgan said: "I find that if earlier recognition and prompt action in response to Bethan's condition by ambulance services had occurred this would have resulted in a pre-alert to the emergency department. "This would, and ought to have, resulted in direct admission to resus with clinical staff waiting for her." 300,000 people in the UK battle Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease She added: "Earlier treatment would and ought to have commenced" and that "the involvement of other specialists would and ought to have occurred at an earlier stage." "On balance, I find that had this direct admission to resus and prompt recognition and treatment occurred, then cardiac arrest would not have occurred when it did." "On balance I find that Bethan would not have died." A post-mortem found Bethan died from a combination of sepsis, Sepsis is the body's extreme reaction to an infection, where it starts attacking its own organs and tissues, while pneumonia is a severe lung infection. Crohn's is a lifelong condition whereby parts of the digestive system become inflamed. She had only recently been diagnosed with Crohn's and had been in and out of hospital in the days leading up to her death. 3 Bethan died from a combination of sepsis, pneumonia and Crohn's disease Credit: Wales News Service But sepsis was never picked up. 'Caring' and 'beautiful' Her mother Jane James told the hearing she felt medics repeatedly missed opportunities to treat her daughter. She said: "It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved." She described Bethan, a journalism student, as a 'caring and beautiful' young woman who would have made a 'brilliant' journalist. Delivering a narrative conclusion, Ms Morgan said Bethan had visited hospital multiple times between January 27 and February 6 - but was sent home again and again. Who gets sepsis and what causes it? Sepsis can affect anyone. The condition occurs when the body's immune system has an overeaction to an infection. As a result, the body attacks itself. Some people are more likely to get an infection that could lead to sepsis, however. This includes babies under the age of one, people over 75 years old, people with diabetes or a weak immune system (either due to treatment, a condition or genetically), people who have recently had surgery or given birth. Any infection can lead to sepsis. But those more likely to are those of: Lungs, such as pneumonia. Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system Digestive system Bloodstream Catheter sites Wounds or burns She added: "Bethan was reluctant to return [to] hospital due to her lack of confidence arising from earlier attendances. "When she collapsed at home, her mother called 999. A rapid responder was sent - but wrongly classed the case as non-urgent. Ms Morgan said: "The rapid responder identified Bethan was in need of admission to hospital and requested a back up ambulance at a non-urgent grade of P3, [but] Bethan's condition warranted an emergency response." "There was no pre-alert issued to hospital to make them aware of the seriousness of her condition." "Bethan was transferred to the UHW majors area of the department when she should [have been] admitted directly to resus." "There was an extended transfer between ambulance and hospital and a delay in recognising Bethan's critical condition once she was admitted." "This delayed the escalation of her treatment and the input of specialty doctors into her care." "Bethan sadly went into cardiac arrest and died." The coroner offered her condolences to Steve and Jane James, who sat through every day of the inquest.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Cricket star's daughter, 21, ‘could have been saved' having visited hospital ‘multiple times', rules inquest
THE daughter of a former England cricketer would not have died if doctors and paramedics had acted faster, a coroner ruled today. Bethan Amy James, 21 , daughter of ex-England and Glamorgan batsman Steve James, died from sepsis after being sent home from hospital multiple times in the days before her death. 3 Bethan Amy James died aged 21 on February 9, 2020 Credit: Wales News Service 3 Ex-England cricket star Steve James' daughter could have been saved Credit: Wales News Service Despite repeated visits to A&E, she was discharged while still seriously unwell. She collapsed at home on February 8, 2020. Paramedics were called but delays and a lack of urgency meant she was not treated quickly enough. By the time she was finally seen in hospital, Bethan was gravely ill and died within hours. Read more on sepsis TAKEN TOO SOON Mum, 28, with stomach ache died after hospital staff failed to spot sepsis Her dad Steve had been in Dublin covering the Six Nations match between Wales and Ireland, but due to weather delays, was unable to get back in time to see her before she passed away. An inquest heard ambulance crews struggled to insert a line, failed to call for urgent backup, and didn't alert the hospital to her worsening condition. Bethan was taken to University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, but instead of being rushed into resus, she was taken to the 'majors' unit where medics failed to grasp how sick she was. Only after a high lactate reading - a sign the body isn't getting enough oxygen and could be shutting down - taken an hour later, did senior doctors intervene. Senior Coroner Patricia Morgan said: "I find that if earlier recognition and prompt action in response to Bethan's condition by ambulance services had occurred this would have resulted in a pre-alert to the emergency department. "This would, and ought to have, resulted in direct admission to resus with clinical staff waiting for her." 300,000 people in the UK battle Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease She added: "Earlier treatment would and ought to have commenced" and that "the involvement of other specialists would and ought to have occurred at an earlier stage." "On balance, I find that had this direct admission to resus and prompt recognition and treatment occurred, then cardiac arrest would not have occurred when it did." "On balance I find that Bethan would not have died." A post-mortem found Bethan died from a combination of sepsis, pneumonia and Crohn's disease. Sepsis is the body's extreme reaction to an infection, where it starts attacking its own organs and tissues, while pneumonia is a severe lung infection. Crohn's is a lifelong condition whereby parts of the digestive system become inflamed. She had only recently been diagnosed with Crohn's and had been in and out of hospital in the days leading up to her death. 3 Bethan died from a combination of sepsis, pneumonia and Crohn's disease Credit: Wales News Service But sepsis was never picked up. 'Caring' and 'beautiful' Her mother Jane James told the hearing she felt medics repeatedly missed opportunities to treat her daughter. She said: "It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved." She described Bethan, a journalism student, as a 'caring and beautiful' young woman who would have made a 'brilliant' journalist. Delivering a narrative conclusion, Ms Morgan said Bethan had visited hospital multiple times between January 27 and February 6 - but was sent home again and again. Who gets sepsis and what causes it? Sepsis can affect anyone. The condition occurs when the body's immune system has an overeaction to an infection. As a result, the body attacks itself. Some people are more likely to get an infection that could lead to sepsis, however. This includes babies under the age of one, people over 75 years old, people with diabetes or a weak immune system (either due to treatment, a condition or genetically), people who have recently had surgery or given birth. Any infection can lead to sepsis. But those more likely to are those of: Lungs, such as pneumonia. Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system Digestive system Bloodstream Catheter sites Wounds or burns She added: "Bethan was reluctant to return [to] hospital due to her lack of confidence arising from earlier attendances. "When she collapsed at home, her mother called 999. A rapid responder was sent - but wrongly classed the case as non-urgent. Ms Morgan said: "The rapid responder identified Bethan was in need of admission to hospital and requested a back up ambulance at a non-urgent grade of P3, [but] Bethan's condition warranted an emergency response." "There was no pre-alert issued to hospital to make them aware of the seriousness of her condition." "Bethan was transferred to the UHW majors area of the department when she should [have been] admitted directly to resus." "There was an extended transfer between ambulance and hospital and a delay in recognising Bethan's critical condition once she was admitted." "This delayed the escalation of her treatment and the input of specialty doctors into her care." "Bethan sadly went into cardiac arrest and died." The coroner offered her condolences to Steve and Jane James, who sat through every day of the inquest.
