Food Allergy – PDF

Coeliac disease mainly affects the small intestine (part of the gut). It can occur at any age. Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction of the gut to gluten. Gluten is part of certain foods - mainly foods made from wheat, barley and rye. Various symptoms can develop including abdominal pains, tiredness and weight loss. Symptoms go if you do not eat any foods that contain gluten. Read more >

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – PDF

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder. The cause is not known. Symptoms can be quite variable and include tummy (abdominal) pain, bloating, and sometimes bouts of diarrhoea and/or constipation. Symptoms tend to come and go. There is no cure for IBS, but symptoms can often be eased with treatment. Read more >

Crohns Disease – PDF

Crohn's disease is a condition where there is inflammation in the gut. The disease flares up from time to time. Symptoms vary, depending on the part of the gut affected and the severity of the condition. The most common symptoms are diarrhoea, abdominal pain and feeling generally unwell. Medication can often ease symptoms when they flare up. Surgery to remove sections of the gut is needed to treat some flare-ups. Medication taken regularly may prevent symptoms from flaring up. Read more >

Ulcerative Colitis – PDF

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease where inflammation develops in the colon and the rectum (the large intestine).  The most common symptom when the disease flares up is diarrhoea mixed with blood. Treatment can usually ease a flare-up of symptoms. The disease can often be prevented from flaring up by taking medication, usually mesalazine, each day. Surgery to remove the colon is needed in some cases. Read more >

Short Bowel Syndrome – PDF

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) may be defined as any disease, traumatic injury, or vascular accident which leaves less than 200 cm of viable small bowel or results in a loss of 50% or more of the small intestine. Read more >

Ulcerative videoColon Polyps – PDF

Bowel (colonic) polyps are small non-cancerous (benign) growths on the inside lining of the colon or back passage (rectum). They are common in older people. They usually cause no symptoms or problems. However, if a polyp is found, it is usually removed. This is because there is a small risk of a bowel polyp developing into a bowel cancer after several years. Read more >

Bowel Cancer – PDF

Bowel cancer (also called cancer of the bowel and colorectal cancer) is common in the UK. Most cases occur in people aged over 50. If bowel cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, there is a good chance of a cure. In general, the more advanced the cancer (the more it has grown and spread), the less chance that treatment will be curative. However, treatment can often slow the progress of the cancer. Read more >

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – PDF

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder. The cause is not known. Symptoms can be quite variable and include tummy (abdominal) pain, bloating, and sometimes bouts of diarrhoea and/or constipation. Symptoms tend to come and go. There is no cure for IBS, but symptoms can often be eased with treatment. Read more >