Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is a chronic disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, which includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon. The colon is the part of the digestive system where waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. The main symptom of active disease is usually constant diarrhea mixed with blood. Inner lining of the colon lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

Ulcerative colitis is, however, believed to have a systemic etiology that leads to many symptoms outside the intestine. It is an intermittent disease, with periods of exacerbated symptoms, and periods that are relatively symptom-free. The disease usually requires treatment to go into remission although the symptoms of ulcerative colitis can sometimes diminish on their own. It is also closely related to another condition of inflammation of the intestines called Crohn’s disease.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that can last years to decades. They affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million people in the United States. They most commonly begin during adolescence and early adulthood, but they can also begin during childhood and later in life. The disease tends to be more common in northern areas.

Ulcerative Colitis has no known cause. There is also a presumed genetic component to susceptibility. The disease may be triggered in a susceptible person by environmental factors. The disease is also not thought to be caused by dietary factors but dietary modification may reduce the discomfort of a person with such disease.

Treatment of the disease is with anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppression, and biological therapy targeting specific components of the immune response. Colectomy, which is the partial or total removal of the large bowel through surgery, is occasionally necessary, and is considered to be a cure for the disease.

There is a wide range of symptoms among patients with this disease including the common ones which are rectal bleeding and diarrhea. Variability of symptoms reflects differences in the extent of disease and the intensity of inflammation. Generally, patients with inflammation confined to the rectum and a short segment of the colon adjacent to the rectum have milder symptoms and a better prognosis than patients with more widespread inflammation of the colon.

The different types of ulcerative colitis are classified according to the location and the extent of inflammation:

• Ulcerative proctitis – inflammation that is limited to the rectum. The only symptom of this disease is mild intermittent rectal bleeding. In addition, some patients with more severe rectal inflammation may experience rectal pain, urgency to have to defecate, and tenesmus.
• Proctosigmoiditis – inflammation of the rectum and the sigmoid colon. Symptoms of this kind include rectal bleeding, urgency, and tenesmus and some patients also develop bloody diarrhea and cramps.
• Left-sided colitis – inflammation starting from the rectum extending up the left colon. Symptoms of this kind include bloody diarrhea, cramps, left-sided abdominal pain, and weight loss.
• Pancolitis or universal colitis – inflammation affecting the entire colon. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, cramps and abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, fatigue, and night sweats.
• Fulminant colitis – patients with this kind are extremely ill with dehydration, severe abdominal pain, protracted diarrhea with bleeding, and even shock.

-- VDoctor

Ulcerative Colitis Recommended Resources:

University of Maryland Medical Center

The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell

Catherine Dice 15.04.09 at 07:42am

mayra patino 13.02.10 at 21:37pm

nigneeftore 06.06.10 at 20:36pm

LellortotaLew 07.06.10 at 16:59pm

YOUR NAME

YOUR EMAIL

YOUR WEBSITE

YOUR COMMENT

SECURITY IMAGE

RELOAD

ENTER TEXT YOU SEE ABOVE