Is one of two types of inflammatory bowel disease – a condition that causes the bowel to become inflamed and red.
A chronic inflammatory disease of the colon or colon and rectum, characterised by abdominal pain and diarrhoea, often mixed with blood and mucus.
Inflammation of the mucous lining of the large intestine (colon).
Severe pain in the colon, with diarrhoea and ulcers in the rectum, often with a psychosomatic cause.
A type of inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects the rectum and colon.
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease, often chronic, that affects the mucus of the colon. It usually begins in the rectum and sigmoid colon and spreads to the entire colon, but rarely affects the small intestine. The ulcerated areas of the large intestine become inflamed and may cause abscesses leading to episodes of bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, urgent bowel movements, fever, weight loss, joint pain, and skin lesions. The etiology of this disease is unknown.
Serious and chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain, fever, chills, and profuse diarrhea, with stools containing pus, blood, and mucus. It affects children, often interfering with their normal growth, and young adults, often preventing many normal life activities. Treatment consists of anti-inflammatory agents, including corticosteroids; severe cases may require surgery with removal of parts of the intestinal tract. Complications include arthritis, kidney and liver disease, inflammation of other mucous membranes, and increased risk of developing cancer of the colon.
An inflammatory disease of the ileum and colon with inflammation followed by areas of normal mucosa known as enteritis; the disease affects the colon and rectum; treatment may involve steroids and removal of affected segments of intestine.
A chronic disease of unknown cause. It affects portions of the colon or rectum, producing ulcers, bleeding, and other complications in these areas.
A type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involving chronic inflammation of the lining of the colon and rectum. The disease affects around 51 in 500 people, often starting when they are aged 10—40.
An inflammatory bowel disease marked pathologically by continuous inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, which typically involves the anus, rectum, and distal colon, and sometimes affects the entire large intestine. It occurs most often in patients during the second or third decade of life, although a second cluster of cases occurs in patients in their sixties. The disease is associated with an increased incidence of cancer of the colon.
A serious inflammatory bowel disease that is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms and ulcers of the colon.
A persistent and recurrent inflammation of the colon characterized by the formation of ulcers denotes a chronic condition.
Persistent inflammation and ulcer formation within the colon and rectal lining, or specifically in the initial stages, within the rectum alone, characterize ulcerative colitis. While the precise cause of this condition remains uncertain, it primarily affects individuals in their youth and middle adulthood.
The primary indication of ulcerative colitis is the presence of bloody diarrhea, often accompanied by mucus in the stool. In more severe instances, the diarrhea and bleeding can be extensive, accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, and a sense of overall discomfort. The frequency of flare-ups differs significantly among individuals. Typically, these episodes happen every few months, though in certain instances, there might be only a singular occurrence.
Ulcerative colitis can result in anemia due to blood loss. Other complications encompass a severe variant of megacolon (abnormal colon enlargement) that can pose life-threatening risks, as well as skin rashes, mouth ulcers, arthritis, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye membrane), and uveitis (inflammation of the iris or choroid of the eye). Furthermore, individuals whose entire colon has been impacted for over a decade face an elevated likelihood of developing colon cancer.
Diagnosis involves inspecting the rectum and lower colon, or potentially the entire colon, as well as utilizing a barium enema. During sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy procedures, biopsies (tissue sample removal) might be conducted. In some cases, fecal samples could be gathered and analyzed in a laboratory to rule out bacterial or parasitic infections. Additionally, blood tests may also be required.
Individuals who have experienced ulcerative colitis for an extended duration should undergo regular colonoscopy and biopsy examinations to monitor the potential occurrence of cancer.
In the majority of instances, medical interventions efficiently manage the condition by alleviating symptoms and averting the onset of complications. When dealing with ulcerative colitis affecting the terminal section of the colon or the rectum, medications can be applied as suppositories. Alternatively, if the condition manifests in higher segments of the intestine, oral administration of drugs is utilized.
Aminosalicylate medications, like sulfasalazine (or the more recent options mesalazine and olsalazine, which carry fewer side effects), are employed to manage acute episodes and sustain symptom-free periods over the long term. Corticosteroid drugs are prescribed to diminish inflammation during abrupt exacerbations. Once the condition is effectively regulated, immunosuppressant drugs might be utilized to deter recurrences.
In cases of severe attacks that do not respond to alternative treatments, or for individuals facing complications like toxic megacolon, colectomy (surgical removal of the colon) may become necessary. Additionally, it might be considered for those at a heightened risk of colonic cancer. Typically, this surgical procedure leads to a significant enhancement in health; however, the individual often ends up with an ileostomy, an abdominal opening through which feces are eliminated.
This type of colitis involves ulcers and inflammation in the intestinal lining. The patient experiences frequent bowel movements daily, which often visibly contain blood, pus, and mucus. This is a severe condition that can result in significant weight loss and serious anemia.
Erosion of the intestinal lining.