Crohns Disease

Crohns Disease / Ulcerative Colitis

Welcome To The Crohns Disease / Ulcerative Colitis page. Please click this NACC web link to access more detailed information about both Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease conditions. We have added some key facts regarding these conditions below, which you may find helpful.

The two main types of IBD are Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease. A less well-known type of IBD is Microscopic Colitis, which covers two types of bowel inflammation called Collagenous Colitis and Lymphocytic Colitis.

Please note: IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) should not be confused with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which is a completely separate condition, but which shares some symptoms with IBD.

Facts and Figures for both illnesses

Together, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease affect about 1 person in every 400 in the United Kingdom.
Population Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease are chronic (ongoing) conditions, which are not infectious.
The most common age for diagnosis is between 10 and 40 (although diagnosis can occur at any age).
In both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease there is a higher chance of developing either illness if you have a close relative who has the condition.
In 10-15% of cases, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease may be difficult to distinguish Men and women suffer equally.

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

Affects up to 120,000 people in the UK, that’s about 1 in 500
Between 6,000 and 12,000 new cases are diagnosed each year Crohns Disease.

Crohns Disease

Affects approximately 60,000 people in the UK, that’s about 1 in 1000
Between 3,000 and 6,000 new cases are diagnosed each year
Research shows that the number of people with Crohn’s Disease has been rising steadily, particularly among young people. More recently, numbers have stabilised.

What is it?

Ulcerative Colitis

It affects the rectum and sometimes the colon (large intestine). Inflammation and many tiny ulcers develop on the inside lining of the colon resulting in urgent and bloody diarrhoea, pain and continual tiredness. The condition varies as to how much of the colon is affected.
In addition, UC can cause inflammation in the eyes, skin and joints
If the inflammation is only in the rectum it is known as proctitis

Crohn's Disease

It can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus but most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon. It causes inflammation, deep ulcers and scarring to the wall of the intestine and often occurs in patches.
The main symptoms are pain in the abdomen, urgent diarrhoea, general tiredness and loss of weight. Crohn’s Disease is sometimes associated with other inflammatory conditions affecting the joints, skin and eyes.

Treatments Available

Ulcerative Colitis

Most patients will be treated with drugs, including 5-ASA therapies (eg: mesalazine) and steroids, to control or reduce the inflammation. Suppressants of the immune system (eg: azathioprine) are used to maintain remission. Some people need surgery to remove the whole of the colon if their symptoms do not respond to treatment with drugs. If the colon is removed, the small intestine leads to a stoma (opening on the abdomen or ‘tummy area’) for emptying of liquid stool (faeces). Or a replacement colon (ileo-anal pouch) is created by the surgeon reshaping the end of the small intestine.

Crohn's Disease

The drug treatment is similar to that for Ulcerative Colitis (above). In addition, various antibiotics can be used; and a new range of drugs are being introduced called monoclonal antibodies (eg: infliximab). Crohn’s Disease can also be helped by special liquid feeds which rest the bowel. Surgery may be required to remove narrowed or damaged parts of the intestine.
Smoking has an adverse effect on Crohn’s Disease, so patients are discouraged from smoking.

The table below contains a list of recommended travel / holiday Insurance companies who will provide insurance cover with past, present Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis conditions.

Please Note: Though we shall endeavour to maintain this page. www.MyHolidayInsurance.com cannot be held responsible for any change in policy by the named Insurance companies below.

Recommended List Of Insurance Companies To Contact
Insurer or Broker	Phone Number	WebSite / Email	Medical Conditions Covered
Flexicover Direct	0870 990 9292	Email : info@flexicover.com Web : www.flexicover.com	Medical screening is required via Healthscreen247, at: www.healthscreen247.com or telephone them on 0845 223 4550 to determine whether will cover patients. Note: For a Pre-existing Medical Condition you must make a Medical Health Declaration before each Period of Insurance and, if there are any changes in your health or prescribed medication, prior to booking or departing on any Trip. Failure to declare any Pre-existing Medical Condition that is relevant to the insurance may invalidate the policy. Also note: any previously declared medical conditions must be re-declared before renewing an Annual Multi-Trip policy.
JD Insurance & Medical Brokers	01689 859102	Entirely a UK based company. Email the following address: insurance@jdconsultants.co.uk	Under normal circumstances, this condition could be covered under the Fortis Policy up to 79 years of age (64 years for Annual Policies) provided there has been no hospitalisation within the last 3 months.