Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing prolonged inflammation and sores of the digestive tract.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing prolonged inflammation and sores of the digestive tract. The disease impacts the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum. Symptoms can take time to develop, rather than appearing suddenly.
Complications from Ulcerative Colitis are debilitating and can be life-threading in some severe cases. Ulcerative Colitis has no known cure, but treatment can significantly reduce symptoms of the disease. Long-term remission is possible with proper treatment. While doctors now know stress and diet are not the main causes of Ulcerative Colitis, it is assumed that they may aggravate the disease.
Heredity may also increase your risk of developing Ulcerative Colitis. Ulcerative Colitis tends to present itself before the age of 30, but it is possible to appear at any age, up to the age of 60. While Ulcerative Colitis can appear in any race, people coming from white, Jewish (Ashkenazi decent) backgrounds are at the highest risk.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Bloody diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Rectal pain and/or bleeding
- Sudden and urgent need to defecate. Sometimes inability to defecate will present itself
- In children, failure to grow.
Medications
Contact us to learn more about the medications used for treatments
