Ulcerative colitis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and …

Ulcerative colitis: Introduction

Ulcerative colitis is one type of several types of inflammatory bowel disease, which include Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, ongoing disease that causes inflammation of the large intestine and/or rectum in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The hallmarks of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea due to inflammation and the development of open sores (ulcers) in the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Other symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal cramping, nausea, fever, skin ulcers, loss of appetite, weight loss, joint pain, and fatigue.

People with ulcerative colitis may also develop anemia due to loss of blood. Ulcerative colitis can also lead to dehydration and malnourishment due to the loss of fluids and nutrients that occurs with ongoing or severe diarrhea. Serious complications of ulcerative colitis include hemorrhage, colon rupture, and the possible development of colon cancer. However, some people with ulcerative colitis may experience very mild symptoms. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

It is not known what causes ulcerative colitis, but it may be the result of an over-reactive immune response to normal bacteria and other substances in the gastrointestinal tract. There may also be a familial connection with ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. About 20% of people with ulcerative colitis have a family member with the disease or with Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative colitis can occur in both sexes and in any age group but most often begins in people between 15 and 30 years of age. Ulcerative colitis is not caused by stress or by eating certain foods, although stress and certain food sensitivities may trigger or aggravate symptoms.

Making a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is often done by a specialist called a gastroenterologist. The process begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination.

It may also include doing blood tests and other tests that check for bacteria, viruses, parasites and blood in stool. Other tests include a complete blood count, which can help reveal if a person has developed anemia and show if an inflammatory process is occurring.

Making a diagnosis also includes performing special imaging tests to see a picture of the insides of the intestines and look for areas of inflammation. Tests may include an upper GI series. This test takes X-ray pictures of the small intestine after drinking barium, a solution that helps to illuminate abnormalities in the GI tract.

CT scan and a variety of tests using video imaging technology may also be done to diagnose ulcerative colitis and rule-out other similar diseases, such as Crohn's disease. This includes a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. These tests involve passing a small flexible tube fitted with a camera through the anus into the colon to look for areas of inflammation. During this procedure, samples of inflamed tissue are taken to be examined under a microscope to confirm a diagnosis.

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Ulcerative colitis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and ...