Ulcerative Colitis and Small Intestine

Abdomen | Gastroenterology | Ulcerative Colitis and Small Intestine (Disease)


Description

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease, which causes ulcers in the intestine. Although most often affects the left colon (sigmoid) and rectum, extension of disease can vary from affecting only the rectum to affect the entire colon (extensive colitis, pancolitis). Area of the colon is an indicator for disease severity.

Extensive colitis is accompanied by symptoms worse than colitis affects only the rectum. There are some people who have a large portion of the colon affected but have no symptoms. The most common inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. Ulcerative colitis is more common than Crohn.

The symptoms of the ulcerative colitis include: diarrhea and rectal leakage. Some people may get 10-20 seats per day. Need to go to the bathroom may wake the person from sleep; rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is frequently accompanies bloody stools and mucus. It can be associated with rectal pain and urge to go to the toilet; abdominal pain, described as cramping. The abdomen may be sensitive to touch; constipation. This can occur depending on the portion of the colon. Constipation is uncommon for diarrhea; loss of appetite; Fever. In some cases affecting the whole body symptoms and fever; weight loss. Chronic symptoms such as diarrhea cause weight loss; anemia (shortage of red blood cells). Some types of the anemia due to loss of iron through bleeding syndrome or inflammatory bowel; General symptoms may also occur and complications outside the digestive tract: joint pain, eye problems, skin rash, liver disease.

Causes and Risk factors

The causes of the disease which can lead to the ulcerative colitis are not known. Some studies have suggested that inflammatory bowel disease may be caused by an abnormal immune response to intestinal bacteria. Other problems such as diseases caused by certain bacteria or viruses (e. g. chicken pox) were associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis is transmitted mainly in families. Some people have a genetic tendency to develop disease caused by exposure to certain stimuli immune system .

Diagnosis and Treatment

The goal of medical treatment is to reduce the inflammation that triggers your signs and symptoms. In the best cases, this may lead not only to symptom relief but also to long-term remission. Ulcerative colitis treatment usually involves either drug therapy or surgery.

Doctors use several categories of drugs that control inflammation in different ways. But drugs that work well for some people may not work for others, so it may take time to find a medication that helps you. In addition, because some drugs have serious side effects, youll need to weigh the benefits and risks of any treatment.

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