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From Disabled World Ulcerative Colitis - Definition, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment By Thomas C. Weiss
Ulcerative Colitis Definition Ulcerative Colitis involves a chronic inflammation of the person's large intestine, also referred to as their, 'colon.' The colon is a part of a person's digestive system where waste material is stored. Persons with ulcerative colitis experience inflammation and ulcers of the inner lining of their colon that lead to diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain. Ulcerative Colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease; they are commonly referred to as, 'Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).' The two diseases are chronic, and may last from years to decades, affecting between half a million to two-million persons in America alone. Both men and women are affected by these diseases equally, most commonly during the person's teenage years and during young adulthood, although they can also start during either childhood or later in adulthood. Ulcerative Colitis is found around the world, although it is found most commonly in England, America, and northern Europe. Ulcerative Colitis is particularly common among persons of Jewish decent. The disease is rare in Asia, eastern Europe, and South America; it is also rare among black populations. For reasons that are not understood, ulcerative colitis is increasing in frequency among persons in developing nations. Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but when it occcurs in the rectum and lower part of the colon it is referred to as, 'Ulcerative Proctitis.' Should the person's entire colon be affected, it is referred to as, 'Pancolitis.' If only the left side of the person's colon is affected, it is referred to as, 'Limited,' or, 'Distal Colitis.' Ulcerative colitis can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders and to another type of IBD called Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease differs because it causes inflammation deeper within the intestinal wall and can occur in other parts of the digestive system including the small intestine, mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Ulcerative Colitis apparently runs in families, with up to twenty-percent of persons who have the disease also having a family member or relative with the disease as well. Causes There are a number of theories about the causes of ulcerative colitis. Persons with the disease present abnormalities of their immune system, yet doctors cannot figure out if these abnormalities are the cause or the result of the disease. The person's immune system is believed to react abnormally to the bacteria in their digestive tract. What is known is that ulcerative colitis is not caused by specific foods or food products; neither is it caused by emotional distress, although these factors can trigger symptoms in some persons. Stress from living with the disease can contribute to worsening symptoms. There is no evidence that either ulcerative colitis or Chrohn's disease are caused by an infection of some form; neither of the diseases are contagious. Ulcerative Colitis is caused by an abnormal activation of the person's immune system in their intestines. A person's immune system is composed of immune cells and proteins that these cells produce. The cells and proteins are there to defend the person's body against viruses, fungi, bacteria, and additional foreign invaders. Activation of the person's immune system results in inflammation within the tissues where the activation has occurred, something that usually only happens when the person's body is exposed to something that is harmful. Persons with ulcerative colitis have an immune system that is chronically activated despite the absence of a known threat or invader. Continual activation of the person's immune system results in inflammation and ulceration that is chronic as well. Susceptibility to this abnormal activation of the immune system is something that is inherited genetically, with sisters, brothers, children, and parents of persons with IBD being more likely to develop the diseases. Symptoms * Loss of body fluids and nutrients Ulcerative Proctitis: Ulcerative Proctitis refers to inflammation which is limited to the person's rectum. For many persons with ulcerative proctitis, mild intermittent rectal bleeding may be the only symptom. Other persons with more severe rectal inflammation may experience rectal pain, urgency and tenesmus. Proctosigmoiditis: Proctosigmoiditis involves inflammation of the person's rectum as well as their sigmoid colon. Symptoms of proctosigmoiditis include rectal bleeding, urgency, and tenesmus. Some persons with proctosigmoiditis may also develop bloody diarrhea and cramps. Pancolitis: Pancolitis refers to inflammation affecting the entirety of the person's colon. Symptoms of pancolitis include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and night sweats. Some persons with pancolitis experience low-grade inflammation and mild symptoms which respond readily to medications. Generally, persons with pancolitis experience more severe disease and are more difficult to treat than persons with limited forms of ulcerative colitis. Fulminant Colitis: Fulminant Colitis is a rare but severe form of pancolitis. Persons with fulminant colitis experience dehydration, severe abdominal pain, protracted diarrhea with bleeding, and perhaps even shock. They may develop toxic megacolon and colon rupture. Persons with fulminant colitis and toxic megacolon are treated in the hospital with potent intravenous medications. If they do not respond to treatment quickly, surgical removal of their colon becomes necessary in order to prevent colon rupture. The intensity of colon inflammation related to ulcerative colitis changes over time, easing and increasing. The location and extent of the disease tends to stay constant. When a person with ulcerative colitis experiences a relapse of the disease, the inflammation they have tends to remain confined to their rectum. Nonetheless, a small percentage of persons with ulcerative proctitis or proctosigmoiditis may later develop extensive colitis. Persons who have ulcerative proctitis may go on to develop left-sided colitis, or perhaps pancolitis. Persons who experience ulcerative colitis for eight years or longer are at greater risk of developing colon cancer. Diagnosis Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy involves insertion of a thin, lighted tool to look at the inside of the person's entire colon. At the same time, the doctor may take a biopsy of the lining of the person's colon. Blood Testing: Blood tests, which are done in order to look for infection or inflammation. A diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is suggested by symptoms of rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Stool specimens are collected for analysis to rule out either parasites or infection because they may cause colitis that mimics the disease. Blood testing may reveal anemia, as well as an elevated white blood cell count or sedimentation rate which reflect inflammation of the person's colon. Confirming ulcerative colitis requires either a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy which allows a doctor to visually confirm the extent of the colitis the person is experiencing. Treatment Aminosalicylates: Sulfasalizine, Sulfapyridine, Olsalazine, Mesalamine, Balsalazide, Sulfasalazine Corticosteroids: Prednisone, Methylprednisone, Hydrocortisone On occasion, persons with ulcerative colitis experience symptoms that are severe enough that they must be hospitalized in order to receive appropriate treatment. A person may experience severe bleeding or diarrhea which causes dehydration, for example. A doctor will treat the person in the hospital to stop the diarrhea and loss of blood, mineral salts and fluid. The person may require medications, surgery, intravenous feeding, or a special diet. Approximately twenty-five to forty-percent of persons with ulcerative colitis eventually have their colons removed entirely due to massive bleeding, rupture of their colon, risk of cancer, or severe illness. At times a doctor will recommend removal of the person's colon if medical treatment has failed, or if the side-effects of medications threaten the person's life. Surgery to remove a person's colon and rectum is referred to as a, 'Proctocolectomy,' and is followed by one of the following procedures: Ileostomy: An Ileostomy involves the surgical creation of a small opening in the person's abdomen, called a stoma, and attachment of the end of the small intestine, called the ileum, to it. Waste will travel through the small intestine and exit the body through the stoma. A pouch is worn over the opening to collect waste, and the person empties the pouch as needed. Ileoanal Anastomosis: An Ileoanal Anastomosis allows the person to have normal bowel movements because it preserves part of the anus. A surgeon removes the colon and the inside of the rectum, leaving the outer muscles of the rectum. The surgeon then attaches the ileum to the inside of the rectum and the anus, creating a pouch. Waste is stored in the pouch and passes through the anus in the usual manner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disabled World (www.disabled-world.com) provides a large range of worldwide health and disability information. Coming Events related to health and disability can be posted at http://disabilityevents.disabled-world.com Disabled World also operates a worldwide Disability Community at http://community.disabled-world.com © Copyright 2010 - Disabled World |