[The role of infective intestinal complications on the course of Crohn's disease and ulcerative rectocolitis].

The authors studied the incidence of protozoal and bacterial infection in 41 cases of Crohn disease und ulcerative colitis; the effect of anti infective therapy on the clinical course has also been tested. Patients with ulcerative colitis are more frequently involved in this type of complication than those with Crohn disease. Therapy has a positive influence on the course of the disease; therefore systematic study of the faeces for bacteria and parasites is necessary for a correct understanding of chronic inflammatory bowel disease and for specific treatment.