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Intestinal Ultrasound for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the large bowel. The causes are not well understood, but the number of patients living with it increases each year. Currently, the gold standard investigation for monitoring UC is through the use of a colonoscopy, which can be invasive as it requires bowel preparation and carries procedural and anesthetic risks from sedation. As a result, it is not practical to repeat colonoscopies frequently to monitor the response to treatment.

Intestinal Ultrasound is a type of ultrasound currently used by gastroenterologists for monitoring Crohn’s disease affecting the small and large bowel. No fasting or bowel preparation is required, and real-time information can be obtained by the ultrasound, which, when combined with patient symptoms and stool inflammation tests (faecal calprotectin), provides an accurate assessment of disease.

A Japanese study published in 2024 with 29 patients with UC investigated if intestinal ultrasound could be directly correlated with the results of a colonoscopy. Patients had the results of their colonoscopy and intestinal ultrasound, which were performed within 15 days, directly compared. The features collected on intestinal ultrasound included bowel wall thickness, bowel blood flow, and fat, which were used to create a score that estimates inflammation. Patients with a higher score for inflammation on intestinal ultrasound had a statistically significant higher score on assessment with colonoscopies. This shows the potential of intestinal ultrasound to reduce the number of colonoscopies required for patients.

Limitations of the study include the small participant size and that it was only performed in one hospital system. This study also did not investigate rectal disease, which is a common area of disease for patients with ulcerative colitis. Despite its promise as a monitoring tool, intestinal ultrasound cannot replace colonoscopies for the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as biopsies from the bowels need to be taken.

Any information provided in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions, we recommend you discuss them with your doctor.

ABC: Inflammatory bowel disease rates increasing in Australia, costing the economy billions

Author: Liana Walker

“Australians living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are calling for more support and research amid warnings the often stigmatising condition is costing the economy  $7.8 billion a year. 

The IBD State of the Nation report released this week reveals Australia is leading the western world in the growth rate of IBD, ahead of Canada, the UK and New Zealand. 

The condition currently impacts almost 180,000 Australians, with that number expected to rise to 200,000 in the next 10 years. 

Despite IBD patients visiting hospitals more than other comparable chronic health condition, it is the only illness where there has been no funding for patient support over the past 10 years. “

Inflammatory bowel disease rates increasing in Australia, costing the economy billions – ABC News

9News: Harrison is one of 180,000 Aussies losing $5900 every year to common illness

Author: Maddison Leach

“Harrison Kefford has had to change career paths just to keep up with the cost of a disease affecting 180,000 Australians.

The 30-year-old writer from Melbourne was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a type of incurable inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in his mid-20s and has been scraping to pay for private health insurance, specialist appointments and other medical fees ever since.

New research from Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) shows that Aussies with IBD spend an average of $5900 in out-of-pocket costs per year and in a cost of living crisis, Kefford can’t keep up on a writer’s income.”

Harrison is one of 180,000 Aussies losing $5900 every year to common illness

Pharmacy Daily: Pharmacists to play critical role in IBD

NEW research published in the State of the Nation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australia report has found that 180,000 Australians are living with IBD, and that number is increasing at a faster rate than in other countries.

The report, from Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA), was launched in Canberra yesterday by Health Minister Mark Butler, and provides an in-depth assessment of Australians living with IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, highlighting potential risk factors as well as solutions for improving outcomes.

Clinical pharmacist and AdPha member Sheridan Rodda was a member of the advisory committee overseeing the project, and told Pharmacy Daily that pharmacists have a critical role to play.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more Australians impacted by the debilitating symptoms of IBD,” Rodda said.

Pharmacists to play critical role in IBD | Pharmacy Daily

The Newcastle Herald: ‘It’s incurable’: rising numbers of debilitating disease sparks concern

Author: Damon Cronshaw

CHLOE Sargent went through a period of grief after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2010. Ms Sargent, of Thornton, has since been through
about 20 surgeries, including one three months ago. She’s among about 9230 people in Hunter New England and Central Coast who live with inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. “It is a matter of learning to live with it. It’s incurable. The biggest challenge is the effect on your mental health,” Ms Sargent, 31, said.

Living with Crohn’s: Chloe Sargent’s journey with IBD amid report | Newcastle Herald | Newcastle, NSW (Paywall)

The Australian – This ‘below the button’ disease is hitting too many Australians. Why is no one talking about it?

Author: Fiona Harari

“About 180,000 Australians live with this painful, lifelong condition involving inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. But as cases grow globally, Australia leads the pack.

The State of the Nation report into IBD in Australia, which is being released on Tuesday by federal Health Minister Mark Butler, says that while cases are growing globally, “Australia is leading the pack”.

Prevalence is expected to increase by 238 per cent between 2010 and 2030 – the highest growth rate among Western countries. Current case numbers already far exceed more high-profile conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Yet IBD “increasingly lacks any real policy focus by governments today and is at risk of falling through the cracks”, according to the report.”

Inflammatory bowel disease on the rise in Australia because of ultra-processed food | The Australian (paywall)

Various News Corp publications:

Author: Tayla Couacaud

“Queensland has the third highest prevalence of a debilitating bowel disease that impacts 180,000 Australians, costing sufferers thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

The State of the Nation report into Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has revealed ultra-processed food is contributing to a significant rise in the disease which was released on Tuesday by federal Health Minister Mark Butler.

The incidences of IBD are rising globally, and Australia is leading the pack – with cases set to rise by 238 per cent between 2010 and 2030 – with Queensland seeing the third highest prevalence rate in the country.

The painful, lifelong condition involving inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is projected to disproportionately impact Australia’s working population, with the peak age of onset occurring between 15 to 29 years.”

Read the full article (paywall)

Illawara Mercury: ‘Like having food poisoning 24/7’: Concern over rising rate of bowel disease

Author: Kate McIlwain

Kiama Nurse Sam Abarca counts herself lucky she was diagnosed “quite quickly” with the chronic bowel disease that made her feel like she had constant food poisoning.

As a health professional working in the Wollongong Hospital ward that looks after bowel surgeries, and with knowledge about Crohn’s disease due to a family member’s experience, she knew to keep pushing to get an answer about her concerning symptoms.

But still she was sent way by doctors and waited several months to get a diagnosis before being diagnosed 10 years ago.

Read the full article (paywall)

The Limbic: ‘Urgent action required to face increasing IBD burden’: report

Author: Siobhan Calafiore

Almost 180,000 Australians are living with inflammatory bowel disease today and many are “frequent flyers” of ED services, but funding for research and patient support lags behind other chronic conditions, new figures suggest.

The IBD State of the Nation report released by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia [link here] shows the condition impacts 179,420 Australians, with over 91,000 experiencing active disease. Prevalence was predicted to rise to 200,000 in the next 10 years, with the growth expected to outpace that of Canada, the UK and New Zealand.

The report stated that patients with IBD were among the most frequent users of the hospital system, often facing prolonged delays in diagnosis. More than one in three patients had symptoms for over a year before diagnosis, with about one in 10 experiencing symptoms for more than five years.

Read the full article (paywall)

Crohn’s & Colitis Australia Unveils New Research Findings from State of The Nation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Report

CANBERRA, 11TH FEBRUARY 2025: Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) has announced the publication of new research findings from its State of the Nation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Australia report. The research provides an in-depth assessment of the nation in relation to those living with IBD, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), highlighting potential risk factors as well as the solutions on how to improve outcomes.

Key Findings:

Incidence of IBD

    IBD Patients are among the most ‘Frequent Flyers’ of the Hospital System

    IBD is often associated with serious symptoms outside of the bowel

      Mental Health Burden of IBD

        IBD Creates Serious Implications for Children

          The Economic Burden of IBD to Australia

            “Understanding the prevalence of IBD, its burden on individuals and the Australian community is essential to the improvement in quality, equity and access to services for people living with these chronic inflammatory gut conditions,” said Leanne Raven, CEO of Crohn’s and Colitis Australia. “We hope this new evidence will help to plan the next important steps to improve quality of life for people living fearlessly with IBD”.

            As a result of the State of the Nation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australia Report, CCA has shared a proposed strategy to improve health outcomes with the federal government. The proposal provides options to address priorities from the report for the government to consider, calling out the need for a national IBD clinical standard, a living well with IBD program, an IBD registry and a specific fund for IBD research in the Medical Research Future’s Fund.

            For more information about the full report, please visit: crohnsandcolitis.org.au

            For more information, interviews or case studies of young people or parents of kids living with IBD, please contact:

            Mia Borg | Maven PR | [email protected] | 0413 801 187

            About Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA)

            Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing support services, advocacy, and research funding for those affected by Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. CCA strives to improve the quality of life for people living with these chronic conditions through education, support programs, and public awareness campaigns.


            Publication: Herald Sun

            Journalist: Sarah Booth

            Full article: Aussie health insurer reveals gut screening as most claimed surgery | Herald Sun (PAYWALL)

            “Large numbers of Australians are turning to surgery to screen for gastrointestinal diseases, as a major health insurer reveals such procedures were their number one claim.

            Medibank data shows they covered more admissions for colonoscopies and gastroscopies than any other hospital treatment in 2024.

            Between January and late December, the most common reason for a Medibank-claimed hospital stay was so doctors could use an internal camera to investigate a patient’s bowel, stomach, food pipe or small intestine.

            Medibank chief customer officer Milosh Milisavljevic said these were “really important procedures that can identify and diagnose a number of conditions such as Coeliac and Crohn’s disease”.

            CCA’s office and services will be closed for the holidays from December 21 to January 5.

            This includes our Helpline and NurseLine, which will not operate during this time.

            You can book a NurseLine appointment in January by clicking here.

            For urgent support during this period: 

            A new AbbVie report has found that, of the one in two Australians living with a chronic health condition, over a third have left a job due to their condition.

            The new Insights Report: Working Well – Creating Workplace Cultures to Unlock the Full Capabilities of Australians Living with Chronic Health Conditions explores the experiences of working Australians living with chronic health conditions.

            CCA CEO Leanne Raven contributed to the report. She said that Crohn’s & Colitis Australia encourages individuals to make their own assessment on whether they want to disclose their condition to their employer and if they feel safe to disclose to their employer.

            “People are more likely to disclose if they feel like their employer is going to ‘make reasonable adjustments’ or accommodate their needs,” Raven said.

            You can read the full report via the link here: Working-Well-Insights-Report.pdf

            You can also read SBS coverage of the report here: A third of people with chronic pain, chronic illness have been forced out of jobs: new report | SBS News

            Patients can find locations in Australia by visiting Study Details | VE202 in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis | ClinicalTrials.gov

            As always: if any of these ingredients are flare foods for you, please omit them or replace them with an alternative item. 

            Ingredients (serves 4): •

            400 g of chicken •

            2 medium zucchinis•

            2 carrots •

            1 leek (if it is well tolerated)

            • A handful of baby spinach

            • A bit of fresh ginger

            • 2 tablespoons of sesame oil

            • 4 tablespoons of soy sauce

            • 1 teaspoon of brown sugar

            • 2 teaspoons of corn starch

            • rice noodles, 400 g

            Preparation:

            Add soy sauce, corn starch and brown sugar to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Leave it to the side. Cook rice noodles as instructed on the package. Dice the chicken and cut the leek, carrots and zucchinis into little sticks. Wash the spinach. Preheat the wok, and add sesame oil followed by leek, and shortly after, chicken. Add the carrots and zucchinis. Cook shortly, over high heat. Add the sauce that you have prepared at the beginning and stir until it thickens. Finally, add spinach into the pan, and let it wilt. Serve with rice noodles.

            As always: if any of these ingredients are flare foods for you, please omit them or replace them with an alternative item. 

            26 November 2024 – Today, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia (CCA), alongside almost 20 other leading consumer health organisations, proudly joins the newly formed Coalition for Preventative Health Funding (CPHF). The CPHF is calling on the federal government to commit to greater investment in Australia’s preventive health efforts.

            Leanne Raven, CEO of Crohn’s and Colitis Australia, stressed the importance of preventive health measures, particularly for Australians living with chronic conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. “For people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), prevention isn’t just about avoiding new illnesses—it’s about actively managing their conditions and reducing complications. This is why investing in preventive care is so important. It can reduce flare-ups, prevent long-term health deterioration, and improve the quality of life for those affected.”

            The CPHF’s call for increased funding is in direct alignment with CCA’s advocacy for a multifaceted approach to IBD care. CCA’s IBD Research Priorities Project, which was codesigned with healthcare clinicians and people living with IBD, highlights two critical areas that must be addressed to improve outcomes for people with Crohn’s and colitis: preventing active disease and investing in research toward a cure.

            Preventing Active Disease

            Best practice, multidisciplinary care plays a vital role in preventing disease progression, acute illness, and costly complications. For people living with IBD, prevention—addressing issues before they become major health crises—should be prioritised while the search for a cure continues. Effective prevention can alleviate both the high personal cost of living with IBD and the financial burden placed on the healthcare system.

            “We know that the costs of disease progression are not just financial but deeply personal for people with IBD,” says Leanne Raven. “Investing in proactive care to prevent complications before they arise is key to reducing both healthcare expenses and the suffering that comes with it.”  

            High-Value Multidisciplinary Care for People with IBD

            The CPHF also advocates for high-value, multidisciplinary care that supports people with IBD in minimising their risk of developing other conditions. Many individuals with IBD are at a higher risk for developing comorbidities due to the nature of the disease and its treatments, which can often compromise the immune system. In fact, studies show that 45% of people with IBD had a significant comorbid disease according to the IBD Audit 2016, and it’s estimated that 50% of people with chronic diseases live with two or more conditions.  This highlights the importance of providing comprehensive care that addresses not just the primary condition but the broader health risks people with IBD face.

            “There are many preventable conditions that affect people with IBD, such as vaccinationpreventable diseases like shingles, which disproportionately impact this immunocompromised group,” Leanne Raven explained. “Addressing these risks through targeted prevention programs can significantly improve their overall health and quality of life.”

            Investing in Research for a Cure

            Finally, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia strongly believes in the importance of investing in research for a cure. CCA’s IBD Research Priorities Project, developed through a codesign process with healthcare clinicians and people living with IBD, underscores the urgent need to accelerate research into the causes, treatment, and ultimately the cure for these debilitating diseases. “We are committed to ensuring that one day, future generations of Australians will be free from the burden of Crohn’s and colitis,” said Raven. “Research is critical, not just for managing the disease, but for finding lasting solutions.”

            The CPHF is asking for four key commitments from the Government:

            1. Commit 5% of the health budget to preventive health, with a focus on chronic disease management and prevention, including IBD.
            2. Involve the CPHF in co-designing how these funds are allocated to ensure the needs of people with chronic conditions like IBD are met.
            3. Ensure that the 5% funding flows directly to CPHF members to support communitybased preventive health programs and research initiatives.
            4. Fund a Secretariat to help administer the CPHF’s efforts and coordinate the delivery of preventive care.

            Leanne Raven: “As part of the Coalition for Preventative Health Funding, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We are calling on Members of Parliament and Senators to support this critical investment in preventive health and research for a cure. Together, we can ensure that Australians living with IBD, as well as future generations, will have the tools, resources, and care they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives free from the burden of these chronic diseases. We believe that this is a pivotal moment to drive change, and there is no better place to make this call than from within the heart of Parliament House. Preventive health and investment in a cure must be a priority.”

            – ends –

            For media enquiries contact Sarah Thyssen on [email protected].

            ABOUT CROHN’S & COLITIS AUSTRALIA

            Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) has been the peak organisation working with people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, healthcare professionals, governments and the public to minimise the impact that these conditions have on the community since 1985. In that time, CCA has been advocating for patients and their families, educating the doctors that treat them, and the policymakers who can bring about change. CCA provides high quality information, supports life-changing research and campaigns vigorously – for more knowledge, better services and more support for people affected by inflammatory bowel disease to improve their quality of life. For more information, visit: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.au/.

            As part of the Young Adult Support program, CCA is working on a new video resource dedicated to women’s health and IBD. 

            Our aim is to address a variety of topics, including differences between IBD therapy for male and female patients, iron deficiency, fatigue, PMS, fertility issues, IBD and other conditions (such as endometriosis), female hormones and IBD, and surgeries and their impact. 

            Send us your questions related to these areas. This will help us focus the resource on topics of interest.

            You can do so via the link below.

            Women’s health and IBD – questions

            We currently have funding from the Australian Government to increase our offering of IBD resources in other languages. 

            We want to hear from our community about the type of translated resources you’d like to see on the CCA website. For instance, more webpages, videos, or languages not currently offered.

            Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in helping us expand our multilingual resources. 

            Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an inflammatory condition that affects the bowel, and its cause is complex and not well understood. It is thought that factors such as genetics, environmental influences, and the gut microbiome affect the risk of developing IBD. Some environmental factors that can contribute to the development of IBD include the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, organic pollutants, and air pollution. Heavy metals such as copper, lead, and cadmium can alter the gut microbiome and lead to a ‘leaky gut’ (the damaged lining of the small intestine allows bacteria and foreign substances to enter the bloodstream). Patients with IBD generally have higher concentrations of these metals than people in the general population. Pesticides and organic pollutants can also affect the gut microbiome and contribute to a ‘leaky gut.’

            Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to the development of not only respiratory conditions but also other inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, which have similar disease development processes to IBD. These factors are thought to have contributed to a 47.5% increase in global IBD cases, from 3.3 million in 1990 to 4.9 million in 2019.

            A 2024 literature review of current research regarding the development of IBD and air pollution found correlations with multiple types of gases produced by air pollution. The gases in air pollution include carbon dioxide, nitric oxides, and particulate matter (PM) of varying sizes, which can be produced by cars, factories, and forest fires. For reference, air pollution levels in Australia are generally low, with cities such as Melbourne having an average PM 2.5 of 6.5 μg/m³, below the Australian government target of 8 μg/m³. However, this can increase dramatically, such as during the 2019-2020 bushfires, peaking at 470 μg/m³ on January 14, 2020.

            PM particles, once breathed into the lungs, are cleared into the intestine, where they can produce inflammatory molecules and interact with the gut microbiome. Specifically, exposure to PM 2.5 has been associated with IBD, and with increases in PM 2.5 exposure, the chance of needing intestinal surgery increases. Countries with higher air pollution overall have a higher rate of hospitalizations for IBD patients, with every increase of ten units associated with a 40% increase in hospitalizations. Nitric dioxide pollution was also associated with an increase in overall mortality in IBD patients.

            More research is needed to investigate the exact disease processes that each air pollutant contributes to the development of IBD, as well as the duration, amount, and length of exposure to air pollution needed to cause them.

            Any information provided in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions, we recommend discussing them with your doctor.

            Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA)
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