1Designating the month of May 2013 as "Crohn's Disease and
2Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic
4diseases that cause inflammation of the digestive and
5gastrointestinal tract; and

6WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two
7main disease categories that belong to a larger group of
8illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD;
9and

10WHEREAS, In 1932 Dr. Burrill Crohn and two colleagues
11published a landmark paper describing the features of what is
12known today as Crohn's disease; and

13WHEREAS, The causes of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
14are unknown; and

15WHEREAS, More than 1.4 million Americans suffer from Crohn's
16disease and ulcerative colitis; and

1WHEREAS, Ten percent of persons affected by Crohn's disease
2and ulcerative colitis are children under 18 years of age; and

3WHEREAS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affect people
4of all ages, but they are primarily diseases of adolescents and
5young adults, affecting mainly persons between 15 and 35 years
6of age; and

7WHEREAS, The diseases affect males and females equally; and

8WHEREAS, Symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
9include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite and
10rectal bleeding; and

11WHEREAS, There is no known cure for Crohn's disease and
12ulcerative colitis, only medication to suppress inflammation;
13and

14WHEREAS, Two-thirds of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
15sufferers must have surgery at some point in their lives; and

16WHEREAS, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, also
17known as the CCFA, works diligently to research the diseases,
18provide information and aid to patients and increase national
19awareness of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; and

20WHEREAS, The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
21Kidney Diseases also conducts and supports research into many
22kinds of digestive disorders, including Crohn's disease; and

23WHEREAS, "Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness
24Month" increases public awareness of Crohn's disease and
25ulcerative colitis patients' circumstances, acknowledges the
26impact of the diseases on patients and families and recognizes
27research for treatment and a cure for Crohn's disease and
28ulcerative colitis; therefore be it

29RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of May 2013 as
30"Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month" in

1Pennsylvania and urge all Pennsylvanians to learn about these
2diseases.