Experts-patient interaction marks IBD Day at DMCH

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 22

The Department of Gastroenterology in collaboration with Colitis and Crohn’s Foundation of India organised Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) today. As many as 70 patients suffering from the IBD and their attendants, who participated in the programme, were apprised of various aspects of the disease.

The DMCH managing society secretary, Prem Kumar Gupta, released a ‘Patient record dairy’ on the occasion. The programme also included an awareness lecture.

While delivering lecture, Dr Ajit Sood, professor and head of gastroenterology, said, “Worldwide, around five million people suffer from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In most cases, the illness can be kept under control with proper medication, but despite extensive research there is currently no known cure for IBD.”

He said, “It is an initiative to create more attention on the difficulties that IBD patients have to face and needs of people living with the disease.”

Dr Rajoo Singh Chinna, professor of gastronenterology, said, “A healthy diet can certainly maintain good nutritional status and help manage symptoms along with medications, which are recommended to effectively treat the IBD.”

Dr Sood also explained treatment of the IBD by the fecal microbiota therapy (FMT). It involves transfer of fecal bacteria from a healthy individual into a recipient.

While giving introduction about Colitis and Crohn’s Foundation of India (CCF), Dr Vandana Midha, professor of medicine, said, “The organisation is a national, academic society of a team of the people with special interest in inflammatory bowel disease. Its composition is multidisciplinary. It comprises physicians, surgeons and other professionals dedicated to assuring high quality patient care by advancing and promoting the science. Society also practices management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.”