What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis (UC) form of  an inflammatory bowel disease that cause inflammation & ulcer in colon.

There’s no cure, and people usually have symptoms off and on for life. But the right treatments can help you keep a handle on the disease.

Ulcerative Colitis Causes :

• The exact cause is not known.
• It is autoimmune disease

Risk Factors

• It’s most likely if you’re between 15 and 30 years old or older than 60.

• Family history. Your risk could be up to 30% higher if you have a close relative with the condition.

Types of Ulcerative Colitis

The type of ulcerative colitis you have depends on where it is in your body:

• Ulcerative proctitis is usually the mildest form. It’s only in the rectum, the part of your colon closest to your anus.
• Proctosigmoiditis happens in your rectum and the lower end of colon  You’ll have bloody diarrhea, belly cramps, and pain , tenesmus(constant urge to poop , but wont be able to).
• Left-sided colitis causes cramps on that side of your belly , bloody diarrhea, weight loss . inflammation from your rectum up through the left side of your colon.
• Pancolitis -It affects your entire colon. severe bouts of bloody diarrhea, belly cramps, pain, fatigue, and major weight loss.

Symptoms

• Diarrhoea mixed with blood or mucus
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Rectal pain
• Rectal bleeding on PR examination
• Urgency to defecate
• Inability to defecate despite urgency
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever

Your symptoms can flare up, go away, and come back. You might not have any for weeks or years.

Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis

• Blood tests .
• Stool samples .
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy with biopsy
• Colonoscopy with biopsy.

Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

UC treatment has mainly 2 goal.. —1.To relieve symptoms and give your colon a chance to heal. —2. To prevent more flare-ups.

You may need a combination of diet changes, medication, or surgery to reach those goals.

• Diet. Some foods can make symptoms worse. You might find that soft, bland food doesn’t bother you as much as spicy or high-fiber dishes. If you can’t digest the sugar in milk called lactose .A balanced diet with plenty of fiber, lean protein, fruits, and veggies should provide enough vitamins and nutrients.
• Medicine. Your doctor may prescribe a few different kinds of drugs, including:
  • Antibiotics. .
  • Aminosalicylates. .
  • Corticosteroids. .
  • Immunomodulators.
  •  Biologics. .
  • Loperamide. 
• Surgery:- RPC IPAA (Restorative Proctocolectomy  Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis)
• In this surgery, entire colon and rectum are removed and a pouch is created from small intestine and attached directly to anus, allowing you to expel waste normally.
• In some cases a pouch is not possible. Instead, surgeons create a permanent opening on abdomen (ileal stoma) through which stool is passed for collection in an attached bag.

Ulcerative Colitis Complications

• Severe bleeding- This can lead to anemia
• Colon perforation
• Severe dehydration
• Osteoporosis
• Inflammation of skin, joints, eyes, and sores in oral cavity
• Risk of colon cancer

 

 

Author :- Dr Sanjiv Haribhakti

M.Ch. GI Surgeon of Western India

Kaizen Hospital