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Ulcerative Colitis is one of the two major forms of inflammatory bowel
disease, Crohn's disease being the other. Ulcerative colitis is
characterized by ulceration of the colon and often the rectum. Unlike
Crohn's, the ilium (part of the small intestine) is rarely involved.
Ulcerative colitis also differs from Crohn's disease in that Crohn's
generally involves patchy ulceration of the colon and no rectal involvement,
while ulcerative colitis usually has continuous ulceration of the colon and
usually also involves the rectum. The cause of ulcerative colitis is
unknown, although immune system dysfunction is suspected. Ulcerative colitis
affects both men and women and is usually diagnosed in young adults (under
30) or in older adults (50-70 years old). Smoking tobacco appears to lower
the risk of ulcerative colitis.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal pain and cramping, frequent
bowel movements including diarrhea, feeling constipated and sometimes
sloshing or gurgling gut noises. Stools may be bloody or contain mucous. The
condition may also affect areas outside the colon, causing sores in the
mouth or on the skin. Diagnosis usually includes a rectal exam and
colonoscopy, although with severe ulcerative colitis the risk of colon
perforation may limit the extent of the exam. Due to the typically limited
area of ulceration, a complete colonoscopy is rarely necessary for
diagnosis.
Ulcerative colitis may be characterized by extent of involvement (ranging
from only the rectum to the entire colon and sometimes the ilium) and
severity. At its most severe, sufferers may have more than 10 bowel
movements daily and systemic infections can occur. If left untreated, the
infected colon can become enlarged and inflamed. An additional risk of
ulcerative colitis is colon cancer. People who have had ulcerative colitis
for 8 years or more are strongly encouraged to get colonoscopies yearly
regardless of age because their risk of colon cancer is much higher than
normal.
Ulcerative colitis symptoms go through periods of acute flare-up and
remission. The goal of treatment is twofold: treatment initially aims to
control the flare-up, then to maintain remission. Acute treatment consists
of medications and diet aimed at healing the colon and controlling any
infection. For severe cases, surgery may be indicated to remove damaged
colon and control symptoms. Removing the colon may prevent the return of
symptoms and will prevent colon cancer.
Please contact us for an evaluation if you are experiencing any of the above
symptoms.
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