Understanding Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a challenging condition affecting the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis specifically targets the large intestine, causing inflammation and ulcers.
Key Symptoms:
- Diarrhea with blood or pus
- Rectal bleeding
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Rectal pain
- Urgency to defecate
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Inability to defecate despite urgency
1. Ulcerative Proctitis: Inflammation near the anus, often with rectal bleeding.
2. Proctosigmoiditis: Involves the rectum and sigmoid colon, causing bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain.
3. Left-sided Colitis: Inflammation extends from the rectum to the left side of the colon.
4. Pancolitis:Affects the entire colon, leading to severe symptoms like bloody diarrhea and significant weight loss.
When to See a Doctor:
Seek medical attention for persistent changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, blood in stool, or unexplained fever lasting more than a day.
Causes and Risk Factors:
- Cause: Unknown, but immune system malfunction is suspected.
- Risk Factors: Age (usually before 30), race, family history (more common in Ashkenazi Jewish descent).
Complications:
- Severe bleeding
- Dehydration
- Toxic megacolon (swelling of the colon)
- Perforated colon
- Increased blood clot risk
- Inflammation of skin, joints, and eyes
- Higher risk of colon cancer
Management:
While there's no cure, new treatments can reduce symptoms and induce long-term remission.
Take Action:
If you experience persistent symptoms, consult your healthcare provider promptly.
Keywords
4.
IBD
pus
cure
eyes
skin
race
anus
stool
ulcers
Action
rectum
Causes
joints
Doctor
Fatigue
Urgency
cramping
swelling
Inability
left side
Pancolitis
Higher risk
Rectal pain
Dehydration
inflammation
entire colon
Key Symptoms
bowel habits
Risk Factors
Complications
sigmoid colon
new treatments
family history
Abdominal pain
blood clot risk
severe symptoms
bloody diarrhea
Toxic megacolon
Severe bleeding
digestive tract
large intestine
Rectal bleeding
Perforated colon
Proctosigmoiditis
unexplained fever
medical attention
persistent changes
Left-sided Colitis
long-term remission
persistent symptoms
healthcare provider
Ulcerative Proctitis
challenging condition
colon cancer Management
significant weight loss
Ashkenazi Jewish descent
immune system malfunction
Ulcerative Colitis Inflammatory bowel disease
