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Causes
Symptoms
Exams and Tests
Diagnosis
Treatment
Managing Ulcerative Colitis
Self-Care for Ulcerative Colitis Patients
Caring for those with Ulcerative Colitis
Causes of Ulcerative Colitis
Theories about what causes ulcerative colitis abound, but none have been proven. The most popular theory is that the body's immune system reacts to a virus or a bacterium by causing ongoing inflammation in the intestinal wall. People with ulcerative colitis have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of the disease. Ulcerative colitis is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some people.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Patients also may experience fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, rectal bleeding or loss of body fluids and nutrients.
About half of patients have mild symptoms. Others suffer frequent fever, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal cramps. Ulcerative colitis may also cause problems such as arthritis, inflammation of the eye, liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis), osteoporosis, skin rashes, and anemia. No one knows for sure why problems occur outside the colon. Scientists think these complications may occur when the immune system triggers inflammation in other parts of the body. Some of these problems go away when the colitis is treated.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Exams and Tests For Ulcerative Colitis
Testing for ulcerative colitis includes a variety of blood tests, diagnostic tests and physical examination. Blood tests may be done to check for anemia, which could indicate bleeding in the colon or rectum. Blood tests may also show a high white blood cell count, which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body. By testing a stool sample, the doctor can detect bleeding or infection in the colon or rectum.
A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy may also be used to diagnose ulcerative colitis. In these procedures, the doctor inserts an endoscope—a long, flexible, lighted tube connected to a computer and TV monitor—into the anus (opening in the rectum) to see the inside of the colon and rectum. The doctor will be able to see any inflammation, bleeding, or ulcers on the colon wall. During the exam, the doctor may do a biopsy, which involves taking a sample of tissue from the lining of the colon to look at the cells in the tissue with a microscope. A barium enema x-ray of the colon may also be used to help diagnose ulcerative colitis. In this procedure, the colon is filled with barium, a chalky white solution, which shows up white the x-ray, allowing the doctor to see ulcers or other abnormalities in the colon.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis
Ulcerative colitis is first suspected by presence of certain symptoms and changes on the physical exam, and then confirmed by the results of a several blood tests and diagnostic procedures.
Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
Treatment for ulcerative colitis depends on the seriousness of the disease. The goal of therapy is to induce a remission (resolution of symptoms and period of time without any symptoms) and maintain this remission over time leading to an improved quality of life. There are several medications available to help people reach this goal, although none cure ulcerative colitis at this time. These medications include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologic therapies and depending upon the medication are taken by mouth, given intravenously (into a vein in the body), or given rectally as a suppository or enema. Examples of medications that may be used for ulcerative colitis that are given by mouth include mesalamine, prednisone, sulfasalazine, Colazal®, azathioprine, and mercaptopurine. Mesalamine can also be given rectally as an enema or suppository. Remicade® is a biologic therapy given intravenously in the clinic or physician office every couple of weeks initially to induce remission and then every 8 weeks to maintain remission. Remicade is typically used for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Approximately 25 to 40 percent of ulcerative colitis patients must eventually have part or all of their colon removed surgically because of massive bleeding, severe illness, rupture of the colon, or risk of cancer. Surgery is the only cure for ulcerative colitis. Sometimes a doctor will recommend removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other medications threaten the patient's health. Luckily, most people with ulcerative colitis will never need to have surgery. If surgery does become necessary, however, some people find comfort in knowing that after the surgery, the colitis is cured and most people go on to live normal, active lives.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Managing Ulcerative Colitis
Treatment for ulcerative colitis depends on the seriousness of the disease. The goal of therapy is to induce a remission (resolution of symptoms and period of time without any symptoms) and maintain this remission over time leading to an improved quality of life. There are several medications available to help people reach this goal, although none cure ulcerative colitis at this time. These medications include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologic therapies and depending upon the medication are taken by mouth, given intravenously (into a vein in the body), or given rectally as a suppository or enema. Examples of medications that may be used for ulcerative colitis that are given by mouth include mesalamine, prednisone, sulfasalazine, Colazal®, azathioprine, and mercaptopurine. Mesalamine can also be given rectally as an enema or suppository. Remicade® is a biologic therapy given intravenously in the clinic or physician office every couple of weeks initially to induce remission and then every 8 weeks to maintain remission. Remicade is typically used for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Approximately 25 to 40 percent of ulcerative colitis patients must eventually have part or all of their colon removed surgically because of massive bleeding, severe illness, rupture of the colon, or risk of cancer. Surgery is the only cure for ulcerative colitis. Sometimes a doctor will recommend removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other medications threaten the patient's health. Luckily, most people with ulcerative colitis will never need to have surgery. If surgery does become necessary, however, some people find comfort in knowing that after the surgery, the colitis is cured and most people go on to live normal, active lives.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
Self-Care For Ulcerative Colitis Patients
Some people with ulcerative colitis experience symptoms that are triggered by certain foods. Avoidance of foods such as highly seasoned foods, raw fruits and vegetables, or milk sugar (lactose) helps these people control their colitis symptoms. Every person with ulcerative colitis has a different degree of illness and range of symptoms and tolerability, so treatment is individualized and adjusted for each individual. Emotional and psychological support is very important to living with ulcerative colitis.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
Caring For Those With Ulcerative Colitis
Friends and family members can help a patient with ulcerative colitis by learning about the condition and understanding how it affects the patient's life. Friends and family can provide emotional and physical assistance. Their support, as well as support from other people who have the same disease, can make it easier to cope.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
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