• Ongoing inflammation of the lining in the colon and rectum
• Symptoms may include bloody diarrhea or mucus in the stool and abdominal pain
• Cause unknown
• Cannot be spread from person to person
• Affects males and females
• Can occur at any age but more common in young and middle age adults
• May be mild without symptoms to severe
• May be life threatening

• Decrease or avoid dairy products
• Use caution when eating high fiber foods; experiment eating them in different ways such as raw, steamed, baked or stewed
• Avoid foods that cause your symptoms to worsen
• Eat smaller meals several times a day
• Exercise regularly
• Decrease your level of stress where possible. Don’t be afraid to ask for helps

FOR DIARRHEA

• Drink plenty of fluids (especially water)
• Home oral rehydration solution (ORS):
  • Six (6) level teaspoons of Sugar
  • Half (1/2) level teaspoon of Salt
• 1 L (5 cupful’s) of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled
• Eat the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Apple sauce, Toast)
• If accompanied by nausea, suck on small pieces of ice (not small enough to choke on!)
• Avoid strenuous exercise
• Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicines (refer to manufacturer’s recommendation for dosage):
  • Loperamide
  • Bismuth subsalicylate

FOR PAIN

• Apply hot or cold packs to the area
• Relaxation techniques
• Distraction
• Over-the-counter medicine (refer to manufacturer’s recommendations for dosage):
  • Acetaminophen