Ulcerative Colitis

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a disorder that causes chronic inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum. This inflammation causes sores, called ulcers, to form in the lining of the colon. Although many people experience periods of remission, surgical removal of the colon is the only cure for the disease. The goal of ulcerative colitis treatment is to encourage the patient to go into remission and to maintain remission. Treatment also focuses on relief of ulcerative colitis pain, relief of other symptoms, and treatment of complications.

Ulcerative colitis is one of two inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) or diseases that cause inflammation of the intestinal tract. It differs from the other IBD, Crohn’s disease, in several ways. First, ulcerative colitis affects only the intestinal lining; Crohn’s disease affects all layers of the intestinal wall. Second, ulcerative colitis is usually limited to the large intestine; Crohn’s disease usually affects the small intestine. Finally, ulcerative colitis tends to be localized to one area of the colon and/or rectum; inflammation in Crohn’s disease can be discontinuous.

Ulcerative colitis is diagnosed in both males and females, usually in patients ages 15 to 30. It also rarely occurs in patients ages 50 to 70. Inflammatory bowel diseases appear to run in families, so having a relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease makes a person more likely to develop ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary from patient to patient, but may include:

• abdominal pain and cramps
  
• feeling the need for a bowel movement even after finishing a bowel movement
  
• bloody diarrhea
  
• rectal bleeding
  
• anemia
  
• nausea
  
• loss of appetite
  
• weight loss
  
• fatigue
  
• fluid loss
  
• fever
  
• failure to grow and develop normally, especially in children

The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About half of people with the disease have only mild symptoms. Others suffer from more severe symptoms. Ulcerative colitis can also lead to problems with arthritis, osteoporosis, liver disease, and eye inflammation, possibly because the inflammation response is triggered outside the colon. Colon cancer is also more common in patients with ulcerative colitis. Treatment of the underlying disease helps many of these problems.

Treatments for Ulcerative Colitis

Treatment for ulcerative colitis is focused on encouraging the disease to go into remission and stay there. Ulcerative colitis treatment also focuses on dealing with the symptoms and possible complications caused by the disease. Although medications cannot cure the disease, several different medication types are commonly used to treat ulcerative colitis and its
symptoms:

• Anti-inflammatory medications such as sulfasalazine

• Steroid medications such as prednisone

• Immune System Suppressors such as 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine. These drugs block the body’s immune response.

Other medications are used for relief of pain, diarrhea, or infection caused by the disease.

Surgery is the only cure for ulcerative colitis, but is performed only when other treatment options fail. Surgery removes part or all of the colon, depending on the affected area.

Ulcerative Colitis: Diet and Nutrition

Because ulcerative colitis can decrease a patient’s appetite as well as interfere with the intestines’ ability to absorb nutrients, ulcerative colitis patients need to take special care to follow a nutritious diet, drink plenty of water, and avoid foods and drinks that worsen symptoms. Those with ulcerative colitis should also avoid alcohol, which can aggravate symptoms.

In severe cases of the disease, doctors may prescribe vitamins or mineral supplements. However, patients should start new vitamins or supplements only with their doctor’s approval.

Ulcerative Colitis: Additional Information

The following organizations can provide additional information on ulcerative colitis:

• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
• Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, www.ccfa.org