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Ulcerative Colitis
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More InDepth Information on This Condition

Definition
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of severe, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which causes:

  • Inflammation
  • Ulcers
  • Bleeding in the lining of the colon and rectum
Ulcerative Colitis

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Causes
The exact cause is unknown. A virus or bacteria may cause the immune system to overreact and damage the colon and rectum.

Risk Factors
Having a family member with IBD (includes UC and Crohn's disease) may increase your risk of developing UC.

Symptoms
Symptoms may include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramps and pain
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Anemia
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue, weakness
  • Nausea
  • Fever
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam. Your doctor may order tests, such as:

Treatment
Treatment options may include:

Dietary Changes
Your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods that trigger symptoms, such as:

Talk to your doctor to learn more about the types of foods that you should avoid.

Medications
There are a range of medicines that may be prescribed, such as:

  • Aminosalicylate medicines (such as, sulfasalazine, mesalamine, olsalazine, balsalazide disodium)
  • Steroid anti-inflammatory medicines (such as, prednisone, methylprednisolone, budesonide)
  • Immune modifier medicines (such as, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, cyclosporine)
  • Biological agents (such as, infliximab, adalimumab)
Surgery
Medicine may not cure very severe UC. In some cases, your doctor may suggest surgery. This can involve having all or part of the colon removed. Surgery may also be done because UC increases your risk of colon cancer.

Over time, colitis that is not treated or that does not respond to treatment can lead to:

If you are diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, follow your doctor's instructions.

Prevention
There are no guidelines for preventing this condition.



RESOURCES:
American Gastroenterological Society

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America

CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada

References:
Richman S, Schub T. Ulcerative colitis. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/pointOfCare/nrc-about. Updated August 2012. Accessed September 5, 2012.

Ulcerative colitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated September 2, 2012. Accessed September 5, 2012.

What is ulcerative colitis? Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America website. Available at: http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-ulcerative-colitis/. Accessed September 5, 2012.

Last Reviewed September 2012