Delay in diagnosis can lead to serious complications

May 6, 2024 – 10:47
IBD disease Gastroenterology HGF Intestine May Purple

Around one hundred patients are seen monthly for the treatment of IBD on equipment at the Ceará Health Department

You initial symptoms common — diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia and weight loss — make the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) a major challenge in defining a correct diagnosis it is a effective treatment. On the one hand, the patient who often avoids seeking medical care due to underestimating the manifestations. On the other hand, the lack of information on the part of general practitioners, which delays the start of treatment. The alert comes from the gastroenterologist at the General Hospital of Fortaleza (HGF) Ticiana Rolim.

To the IBD most common are Crohn’s disease, chronic inflammation that can manifest itself in any segment of the digestive tract; and Ulcerative Colitis, exclusive to the large intestine and rectum. These are diseases that can evolve with various complications, such as stenosis (narrowing of the intestine), fistulas (anomalous path that appears between the intestine and other organs), perforations and even intestinal cancer.

The diseases are of autoimmune origin and do not have a well-defined cause, explains the specialist. “There is a genetic factor to which a person is born predisposed and at some point in life, due to some trigger, the symptoms are triggered,” she says. “The triggers are varied. Among them, smoking, an infection and even the use of some medications, such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories”, she adds.

Prevalence in young people

According to data from SBrazilian Society of Coloproctology (SBCP), approximately five million individuals around the world have some IBD, most of them teenagers and adults aged 15 to 40 years. In Brazil, the institution’s record is one hundred cases for every one hundred thousand inhabitants in the public health system. “As it affects young people, in the productive phase, if left untreated, the disease can cause several complications, such as absenteeism from work and social withdrawal”, points out Ticiana.

Due to its autoimmune nature, IBD can be associated with liver complications and even spinal problems.

Daniela Cumaru, aged 27, always had episodes of diarrhea and intestinal colic as a child, but only discovered the disease in 2017, after being admitted to the hospital unit. Ceará Health Department (Sesa) with IBD symptoms. “Before, doctors said it was irritable bowel syndrome”, he recalls.

Confusion is common and one of the biggest obstacles to treating the disease, highlights Rolim. “It takes a long time to reach a diagnosis due to lack of knowledge about the disease. Even in the medical profession itself, sometimes there is a delay in diagnosis, which tremendously harms the evolution of patients,” he says. “Because it presents common symptoms [diarreia, dor abdominal, anemia, perda de peso], IBD often goes through hasty diagnoses, such as parasitic infections and irritable bowel. On average, it takes the patient two to three years to receive the correct diagnosis”, he adds.

In 2019, Daniela’s disease symptoms worsened and had to undergo a surgical procedure at HGF to use colostomy bag. “The scholarship, for me, is life. She gave me more happiness, more confidence. Today, I can have a super active life. I put on clothes and no one says I have a colostomy bag”, shares the teacher.

O HGF Intestinal Diseases Outpatient Clinic serves around one hundred patients diagnosed with IBD every month. The service operates on Mondays in the morning and on Tuesdays in the afternoon.

Purple May: event to raise awareness of IBD

On May 10th, HGF will hold the event “Purple May: awareness month about Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)”. Promoted by the Gastroenterology service, the objective is to bring together patients to exchange experiences and promote knowledge about IBD among health professionals. The meeting is open to the public through online registration.

May was established as awareness month about these diseases. The color purple symbolizes the fight and solidarity in relation to these health conditions. The objective of the campaign is to increase public debate around the problem and raise awareness in society of the importance of early diagnosis and correct treatment to improve patients’ quality of life.

Service:

Purple May: awareness month about Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)
May 10th (Friday)
Fortaleza General Hospital (R. Ávila Goularte, 900 – Papicu)
Online registration at this link