What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which the inner lining of the large intestine (colon or bowel) and rectum become inflamed. Inflammation usually begins in the rectum and lower (sigmoid) intestine and spreads upward to the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine, except for the lower section, the ileum.
The inflammation causes diarrhea, or frequent emptying of the colon. As cells on the surface of the lining of the colon die and slough off, ulcers (open sores) form and may cause the discharge of pus and mucus, in addition to bleeding.
What causes Ulcerative Colitis?
Although many theories exist regarding the cause of ulcerative colitis, none has been proven. The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, and currently there is no cure, except through surgical removal of the colon. One theory suggests that some agent, possibly a virus or an atypical bacterium, interacts with the body's immune system to trigger an inflammatory reaction in the intestinal wall.
Although much scientific evidence shows that people with ulcerative colitis have abnormalities of the immune system, physicians do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or result of the disease.
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
Symptoms may include:
The symptoms may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
Drug therapy(aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators)
Abdominal cramps and diarrhea may be helped by medications to reduce inflammation in the colon. More serious cases may require steroid medications, antibiotics, or medications that affect the body's immune system.
Hospitalization
Patients with ulcerative colitis occasionally have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization to correct malnutrition and to stop diarrhea and loss of blood, fluids, and mineral salts. The patient may need a special diet, intravenous (IV) feedings, medications, or, sometimes, surgery.
Surgery
Most people with ulcerative colitis do not need surgery. However, about 25 to 40 percent of ulcerative colitis patients eventually require surgery for removal of the colon because of massive bleeding, chronic debilitating illness, perforation of the colon, or risk of cancer. Sometimes, removing the colon is suggested when medical treatment fails, or the side effects of steroids or other drugs threaten the patient's health.
Source: www.placentialinda.staywellsolutionsonline.com/library/encyclopedia and National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/