Digestive Diseases
The Fungal Etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, although distinguished by well-known characteristics, are together known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). IBD can be characterized by a host of symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, rectal bleeding, weight loss, fever, and a host of extra-intestinal symptoms, including disorders of the eyes, liver, gallbladder, muscles and joints, kidneys, and skin.
The Missed Diagnosis - Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that many times brings about a missed diagnosis. As many as 50 to 60% of patients have absolutely no symptoms. Patients with Celiac Disease are allergic to grains (wheat, oats, rye, barley, triticale, spelt). When gluten from wheat or other grains is consumed, antibodies are made that over a period of years injure the projections on the surface of the small intestine (villi). The surface of the small bowel then becomes flat and normal causing faulty absorption.
