ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Ulcerative colitis is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the lining of the colon. Ulcers or sores form on the colon. These ulcers cause diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis may be called just colitis, or ileitis or proctitis, depending on the location of the inflammation. It is usually just in the rectum and the lower part of the colon.

Symptoms may range from mild to moderate. The main symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. However other symptoms that may be present are:

rectal bleeding
fever
skin or eye irritations
weight loss and
delayed growth in children

The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown. Stress does not cause ulcerative colitis, but it may make it worse. The same is true of the diet. If some foods are avoided, the symptoms may not be as bad.

Ulcerative colitis does not have a cure. Some people may have only one attack, and then never have another one. The attacks may stop when ulcerative colitis is treated with medicines. Because of this, it may seem someone had a cure. Usually ulcerative colitis can be controlled with medicines. If the attacks are frequent and severe, surgery may be necessary. Surgery involves removing the colon and rectum. Only when this is done is ulcerative colitis considered cured.

Good nutrition is important for people who have ulcerative colitis. Many nutrients are lost from the frequent diarrhea stools. There are no specific food restrictions, but some people may find that certain foods cause problems. They need to stay away from those foods. Sometimes the provider will order vitamins.

There are several different types of colitis. Ulcerative colitis is the most serious form of colitis. Follow-up examinations must be done on a regular basis for those patients diagnosed with colitis. This is important because there is an increased incidence of cancer in some types of colitis, including ulcerative colitis.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File DIGE4411.rf2 VRS# 4411 Data Version 7.0