Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease are collectively termed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both UC and Crohn's disease are chronic, relapsing-remitting diseases characterized by acute, non-infectious inflammation of the gut. Diarrhoeal diseases likely to be IBD have been described for centuries. King Alfred (849–899 AD) suffered from an illness which caused pain on eating, discomfort, and much embarrassment. This affliction plagued the King from the age of 20, without remission. At the time the illness was thought to be due to witchcraft or a punishment for the King's infidelities. In retrospect, however, the illness was probably IBD. Despite this, UC was not formally described until 1859, and Burrill B. Crohn did not describe the disease later named after him until 1932.
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