Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. The inflammation usually occurs in the rectum and lowerpart of the colon, but it may affect the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, called the ileum. Ulcerative colitis may also be called colitis, ileitis, or proctitis.

The inflammation makes the colon empty frequently, causing diarrhea. Ulcers form in places where the inflammation has killed colon lining cells; the ulcers bleed and produce pus and mucus.

Causes
The most popular theory about the cause of colitis is that the body’s immune system reacts to a virus or a bacterium by causing ongoing inflammation in the intestinal wall.

People with ulcerative colitis have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of the disease. Ulcerative colitis is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some people.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Patients also may experience

• Fatigue.
• Weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Rectal bleeding.
• Loss of body fluids and nutrients.

About half of patients have mild symptoms. Others suffer frequent fever, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal cramps. Ulcerative colitis may also cause problems such as arthritis, inflammation of the eye, liver disease, osteoporosis, skin rashes, anemia, and kidney stones. These problems are usually mild and go away when the colitis is treated.

Diagnosis
Ulcerative colitis can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and to another type of IBD called Crohn’s disease. A thorough physical exam and a series of tests may be required to diagnose ulcerative colitis. Tests may include:

• Blood tests
• Stool sample
• A colonoscopy
• A barium enema x-ray of the colon

Treatment
Treatment for ulcerative colitis depends on the seriousness of the disease. Most people are treated with medication. In severe cases, apatient may need surgery to remove the diseased colon. Surgery is the only cure for ulcerative colitis.

Some people whose symptoms are triggered by certain foods are able to control the symptoms by avoiding foods that upset their intestines, like highly seasoned foods or milk sugar (lactose).

Some people have remissions--periods when the symptoms go away--that last for months or even years. However, most patients’ symptoms eventually return. This changing pattern of the disease means one cannot always tell when a treatment has helped.

Someone with ulcerative colitis may need medical care for sometime, with regular doctor visits to monitor the condition.

Most people with ulcerative colitis will never need to have surgery. If surgery ever does become necessary, however, some people find comfort in knowing that after the surgery, the colitis is cured and most people go on to live normal, active lives.

Last Updated: December 03, 2007