What is Ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause
Long-standing inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost layer of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.
Symptoms usually develop over time, not suddenly.
There is no cure, and people often experience symptoms for life. But the correct treatment can help you control the disease.
Causes and risk factors of ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis occurs when your immune system makes mistakes. Usually, it attacks an intruder in your body like a common cold. However, when you have UC, your immune system thinks food, beneficial gut bacteria and cells around the colon are invaders. It usually protects your white blood cells but attacks the colon wall. They cause inflammation and ulcers.
The risks that may affect your ulcerative colitis include:
Age. If you are between 15 and 30 years old, or over 60 years old, it is very likely.
Ethnicity. People with Ashkenazi Jewish descent have the highest risk.
Family history. If you have close relatives to the disease, your risk may be 30% higher.
Types of ulcerative colitis
The type of ulcerative colitis depends on its location in the body:
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause
Long-standing inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost layer of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.
Symptoms usually develop over time, not suddenly.
There is no cure, and people often experience symptoms for life. But the correct treatment can help you control the disease.
Causes and risk factors of ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis occurs when your immune system makes mistakes. Usually, it attacks an intruder in your body like a common cold. However, when you have UC, your immune system thinks food, beneficial gut bacteria and cells around the colon are invaders. It usually protects your white blood cells but attacks the colon wall. They cause inflammation and ulcers.
The risks that may affect your ulcerative colitis include:
Age. If you are between 15 and 30 years old, or over 60 years old, it is very likely.
Ethnicity. People with Ashkenazi Jewish descent have the highest risk.
Family history. If you have close relatives to the disease, your risk may be 30% higher.
Types of ulcerative colitis
The type of ulcerative colitis depends on its location in the body:
- Ulcerative proctitis is usually the mildest form. It is only in the rectum, the part of the colon closest to the anus. Rectal bleeding may be the only symptom of the disease.
- Rectal sigmoiditis is the lower end of your rectum and colon (you may hear the doctor call it sigmoid colon). You will bleed diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain. You will have a desire to defecate, but not. (Your doctor may call this an emergency.)
- Left-sided colitis can cause cramps on the side of the abdomen. You will also have diarrhea, diarrhea, and you may lose weight without trying. It can be inflamed from the rectum all the way to the left side of the colon.
- Pancreatitis usually affects your entire colon. It may cause severe diarrhea, bleeding, abdominal cramps, pain, fatigue and major weight loss.
- Acute severe ulcerative colitis is rare. It affects the entire colon and causes severe pain, severe diarrhea, bleeding, and fever.
Symptoms
The symptoms of ulcerative colitis may vary, depending on the severity of the inflammation and where it occurs.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea, often with blood or pus
- Abdominal pain and colic
- Rectal pain
- Rectal bleeding-a small amount of blood is discharged through the stool
- Urgent need to defecate
- Can't defecate in an emergency
- Lose weight
- Fatigue
- Heat
- In children, unable to grow
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