All About Ulcerative Colitis

Answer 1

A type of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, ulcerative colitis has no known cause. It affects any age, primarily ages 15 to 30 and 50 to 70 years of age. It affects the colon and rectum lining, giving abdominal and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Symptoms

According to A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, the symptoms can include weight loss, rectal pain, fever, pus-filled stools, bloody stools, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, and abdominal sounds. There can be other symptoms that aren't as common that include skin lumps, skin ulcers, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, joint swelling, joint pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Treatment

There are different treatments for ulcerative colitis, including hospitalization, diet, medications, and surgery. Hospitalization occurs for more severe attacks. Diet for this type of condition includes high fiber foods, limiting dairy and fatty greasy foods, and drinking plenty of water. Medications that may help include corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and 5-aminosalicylates. These drugs help lower the frequency and amount of attacks.

Surgery Option

Surgery is an option, including the removal of the colon. This lowers the colon cancer threat and cures ulcerative colitis. This is typically an option only when there are attacks that aren't responding to diet, medication, and other lifestyle modifications. If there are pre-cancerous cells in the colon's lining, it can be done as well. Lastly, for severe bleeding and ruptures of the colon, surgery will help. When the colon is removed, patients will need an ileostomy which is an opening in the abdominal wall to help eliminate waste.

If you are having symptoms of ulcerative colitis, the tests that the doctor will do include a colonoscopy. This is a screening test where a flexible tube with a camera is eased into the rectum to show the inside of the colon. It can be done alone or with other tests that include a barium enema, c-reactive protein test, sedimentation rate test, and a complete blood count.