Ulcerative colitis is a long-term disease that affects the colon and may reach the rectum and cause inflammation, and it is part of inflammatory bowel diseases.
The colon is part of the large intestine and the rectum is the last part where stool is stored.
A small ulcer in the colon may cause abscess formation, which eventually causes bleeding.
Ulcerative colitis causes irritation of the membrane that covers the colon and is an incurable disease that remains with the patient throughout his life.
Various treatments help to live with ulcerative colitis by reducing the feeling of symptoms caused by the disease.
Types of ulcerative colitis
The type of ulcerative colitis depends on the location in which the disease is located, and it is as follows:
1. Ulcerative proctitis
Ulcerative proctitis is usually the mildest type of inflammation, as it involves only the rectum, which is the part close to the anus, and rectal bleeding may be the only sign of inflammation.
2. Proctosigmoiditis
Sigmoid colitis occurs in the rectum and lower end of the colon, and you may hear the doctor call it the sigmoid colon.
The patient has bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, and he may feel the urge to defecate, but he cannot.
3. Left side colitis
Because of this inflammation, abdominal pain occurs on the left side, and the patient suffers from bloody diarrhea, and he may lose a lot of weight without trying to do so.
In this type, inflammation affects from the rectum to the left side of the colon.
4. Pancolitis
Pancolitis often affects the entire colon, causing severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and significant weight loss.
5. Acute severe ulcerative colitis
It is a rare type of ulcerative colitis that affects the entire colon, causing severe pain, severe diarrhea, fever, and bleeding.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis
Symptoms vary according to the severity and location of the ulcer, but in general we may notice the following symptoms:
1. General symptoms of ulcerative colitis
The following are the most prominent symptoms that a patient with ulcerative colitis encounters:
Frequent, severe diarrhea that may be accompanied by bleeding, abscess, or mucus.
abdominal pain
The need to defecate all the time.
extreme tiredness
low weight.
A rise in body temperature.
2. Exacerbation of ulcerative colitis symptoms
Some patients experience mild symptoms of ulcerative colitis for a period of several weeks to months, after which they may develop severe symptoms indicating an exacerbation of the disease, including:
Pain and swelling in the joints.
sores in the mouth
Severe pain in the area of injury with swelling and swelling.
Eye irritation and redness.
3. Severe ulcerative colitis symptoms
The condition is considered very severe if the patient defecates more than 6 times a day in addition to the following symptoms:
shortness of breath.
Rapid and irregular heartbeat.
Fever and high temperatures.
The appearance of blood in diarrhea clearly.
The appearance of these symptoms is related to the severity of the inflammation and its cause. Proctitis may be chronic and recurrent, and in cases of inflammation not associated with pollution, it may occur following radiotherapy, surgery, or as a secondary phenomenon to taking some drugs, or as a result of Ischemia.
Causes and risk factors for ulcerative colitis
In fact, the cause of ulcerative colitis is not yet known. It was previously believed that the nature of food and stress are the main causes of the disease, but it was found that these things are only factors that exacerbate the disease and not cause it.
The following are the most prominent possible causes and risk factors for ulcerative colitis:
1. Causes of ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis may be caused by the following
Malfunction of the immune system
It is believed that the main reason for the occurrence of inflammation is a defect in the immune system, and this occurs when a foreign body enters the intestine, such as: viruses and bacteria, where the immune system attacks foreign bodies, but it mistakenly attacks the cells of the digestive system, causing ulcerative inflammation in them.
Genetic factor
Scientists believe that genetics may play a role in the spread of the disease, as the chances of the disease occurring increase in people whose family members suffer from it.
2. Risk factors
Ulcerative colitis occurs equally in men and women, but there are some other factors that increase the chances of the disease occurring, the most important of which are:
Age: The disease occurs largely before the age of 30, but this does not affect the absence of other individuals with it. Some people develop symptoms after the age of 60 years.
Race: The disease affects people with white skin more, and the chances of it occurring increase among Ashkenazi Jews, but it may affect everyone.
Sick family history: If you have family members who suffer from the disease, you are more likely to contract it than others.
Complications of ulcerative colitis
Among the most common complications of ulcerative colitis are the following
severe bleeding
Perforation of the colon.
severe diarrhea
Osteoporosis.
Inflammation of the skin, joints, or eyes.
Increased risk of colon cancer.
Increased risk of blood clots in veins and arteries.
Poor growth and development in children.
Inflammation of the bile ducts.
Rapid toxic megacolon.
Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis
The doctor usually diagnoses the disease in childhood, adolescence, or youth by excluding all diseases with similar symptoms and conducting a physical examination, then the doctor requests the following examinations:
1. Blood tests
Where blood tests show signs of exposure to a bacterial infection, or anemia.
Anemia is usually caused by iron deficiency and is associated with blood in the stool.
2. Stool examinations
The examination shows the presence of a bacterial or fungal infection, or even inflammation in the area.
3. Imaging examinations
The doctor may order a comprehensive picture of the colon by performing one of the following tests:
MRI examination.
Computed tomography.
4. Endoscopy
The doctor may perform an endoscopy, an examination in which a thin tube is ed from the anus into the colon to check the health of the colon and rectum.
Endoscopy shall be using one of the following types
Colonoscopy.
Sigmoidoscopy.
Ulcerative colitis treatment
Treatment is by using medications, or performing surgery as follows
1. Pharmacological treatment of ulcerative colitis
The treatment is done as follows
Anti-inflammatory medications
Anti-inflammatory drugs are the primary treatment for ulcerative colitis, the most important of which are:
The group of aminosalicylates (5 - Aminosalicylates): the most prominent of which are Sulfasalazine and Mesalamine.
Corticosteroids: such as: Prednisone and Budesonide, a treatment used for a temporary period in moderate to severe cases.
Immune system suppressors
Treatment is with immunosuppressants to reduce inflammation, and more than one type may be combined, according to the doctor''s instructions.
The most prominent examples of this are
Azathioprine.
Cyclosporine.
Tofacitinib.
Biological agents
It targets proteins made by the immune system, most notably
Infliximab.
Vedolizumab.
Ustekinomab.
4. Other medicines
Some medications are used to relieve symptoms, such as
Antidiarrheal: Medicines are used to reduce diarrhea, such as: Loperamide.
Painkillers: Paracetamol is used in particular.
Treatment of abdominal cramps: Sometimes abdominal cramps are treated specifically.
Iron supplements: In the event of chronic bleeding, iron deficiency may occur in the body, which requires the disbursement of iron as a nutritional supplement.
2. Surgical treatment
If previous treatments do not work, the doctor may remove the entire colon or colon and rectum (Proctocolectomy).
The doctor may a small pouch in the small intestine and attach it to the anus to eliminate stool naturally.
Prevention of ulcerative colitis
There is no way to prevent ulcerative colitis, but early diagnosis reduces the severity of the disease.
