These bugs don't cause any trouble for most people, but they send some 1 million U.S. residents running to the bathroom in pain from a chronic, debilitating inflammation of the intestines.
Researchers think they have now identified two specific microorganisms that trigger such disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a general term for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis is usually confined to the inner surface of the colon, whereas Crohn's disease can involve all layers of the entire gastrointestinal tract. Both can cause recurring attacks of diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and weight loss. Drugs can quell the illness temporarily, but in severe cases, doctors must remove the diseased bowel. Though the new research will not provide immediate relief for people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, it may ultimately lead to a better way to treat the diseases.