Ulcerative Colitis – Causes, symptoms and treatment methods
Ulcerative colitis (UC) refers to a disease in which the lining of the colon (large intestine) becomes inflamed. It occurs at any age. Disease May involve the entire colon (pancolitis), only the rectum (proctitis ulcerative colitis) or, more commonly, somewhere between the two. The amount of colon affected usually predicts the severity of the disease. The disease usually begins in the rectum or the rectum and sigmoid colon (the lower end of the large intestine), but may eventually spread over part or all of the large intestine. In patients suffering from ulcerative colitis, ulcers and inflammation of the lining of the colon head with symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. As Crohn’s disease, another common IBD, ulcerative colitis can be painful and debilitating and can sometimes lead to potentially fatal complications. Ulcerative colitis is a rare disease with an incidence of about one per 10,000 in North America. The disease tends to be more common in northern regions.
Ulcerative colitis is defined as mild, moderate or severe, depending on the frequency of diarrhea, the presence of blood and how generally unwell the person is. Ulcerative proctitis, which is limited to the rectum is very common and relatively benign form of ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is more common than Crohn’s disease. Disease May involve the entire colon (pancolitis), only the rectum (proctitis ulcerative colitis) or, more commonly, somewhere between the two. It can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders and to another type of IBD called Crohn’s disease. Blood tests and stool samples help diagnosis, but the key criterion is the examination of the intestine, and biopsy. It most often begins during adolescence and early adulthood, but they may also begin in childhood and later in life. Ulcerative colitis is an intermittent disease, with periods of exacerbated symptoms, and periods that are relatively symptom-free.
Causes of Ulcerative colitis
Common causes and risk factors of ulcerative colitis are:
Exective The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown.
Abnormal activation of the immune system in the intestine.
A family history of ulcerative colitis.
Smoking.
Generalized increased reactivity against intestinal bacterial antigens.
Environmental factors such as nutrition and exposure to various infections.
The symptoms of ulcerative colitis
Some signs and symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis are:
Loss of body fluids and nutrients.
Weight loss.
Nausea.
Cramping abdominal pain.
Night sweats.
Fatigue.
Loss of appetite.
Fever.
Extreme fatigue.
Treatment of ulcerative colitis
Here is the list of methods of treatment of ulcerative colitis:
Aminosalicylates, drugs that contain 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), help control inflammation.
Drugs such as azathioprine and mercaptopurine have been used to maintain remission in people with ulcerative colitis who would otherwise need long-term corticosteroid therapy.
Taking nutritional supplements to restore growth and normal development in children and adolescents.
Steroids can help reduce inflammation, but they have many side effects, including a puffy face, excessive facial hair, night sweats, insomnia and hyperactivity. Long-term use of these drugs in children can lead to stunted growth.
Laxatives and antidiarrheal drugs.
Surgery is used in people who have severe symptoms that are not controlled by drugs that have unacceptable side effects of medication, or have a very high risk of colon cancer because of extensive inflammation throughout the colon.