Former England rugby union captain Lewis Moody has joined Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher in revealing that he suffers from ulcerative colitis.
Scotland international Fletcher has been forced to take an "extended break" after receiving medical advice, while Moody has admitted that he has to take "eight pills" to control the problem on "bad days".
With the illness now a hot topic across the sporting world, Sports Mole has researched all aspects of the problem.
What is ulcerative colitis?
It is an inflammation of the large bowel, which is better-known as the colon. One in 200 people in Great Britain develop inflammatory bowel disease, which means around 100,000 have it. People aged between 10 and 40 are most likely to suffer with the problem.
What are the symptoms?
There are four main symptoms:
Bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a frequent requirement to use the toilet and weight loss.
What causes ulcerative colitis?
The cause is so far unknown, although it's genetic to some extent. Something in the atmosphere sets it off, such as food or pollution.
Treatments
The illness can be treated in a number of different ways, depending on the severity of the condition. These include:
Tablets, a suppository, an enema or surgery.
Is there any cure?
The only way to cure the condition is via surgery. This will remove the colon completely so surgeons only carry out the procedure if it is deemed absolutely necessary. One-third of patients end up undergoing an operation.
