Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis
Endoscopic image of a colon affected by ulcerative colitis. The internal surface of the colon is blotchy and broken in places. Mild-moderate disease.
Medical specialty	Gastroenterology
Symptoms	Abdominal pain, diarrhea mixed with blood, weight loss, fever, anemia, dehydration, loss of appetite, fatigue, sores on the skin, urgency to defecate, inability to defecate despite urgency, rectal pain
Complications	Megacolon, inflammation of the eye, joints, or liver, colon cancer
Usual onset	15–30 years or >60 years
Duration	Long term
Causes	Unknown
Diagnostic method	Colonoscopy with tissue biopsies
Differential diagnosis	Dysentery, Crohn's disease, ischemic colitis
Treatment	Dietary changes, medication, surgery
Medication	Sulfasalazine, mesalazine, steroids, immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, biological therapy
Frequency	2–299 per 100,000
Deaths	47,400 together with Crohn's (2015)

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the other type being Crohn's disease. It is a long-term condition that causes inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum.

The main symptoms of the disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood. Weight loss, fever, and anemia can also happen. Symptoms come on slowly and can be either mild to severe. Symptoms usually happen between periods of no symptoms and flares. Problems may include an enlarged colon (megacolon), inflammation of the eye, joints, or liver, and colon cancer.

The cause of UC is unknown. Some possible causes include genetics, environment, and an overactive immune system.

References

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