ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) refers to a cluster of diseases that affect the GI tract. Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease in which inflammation & sores occur the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. Generally inflammation begins in the rectum and moves upwards to invade the entire large intestine.
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What are the types of Ulcerative Colitis?
- Ulcerative Proctitis is a mild form of ulcerative colitis and is characterised by inflammation in the rectum alone. Rectum is the part of the large intestine that is closest to anus. The only sign or symptom of ulcerative proctitis is rectal bleeding
- Proctosigmoiditis occurs when inflammation occurs in rectum & the lower part of the colon also known as the sigmoid colon. Common signs & symptoms include blood in stools, cramps & pain in the abdomen. The patient may also have tenesmus , a condition in which he or she cannot pass bowel movement despite an urge to do so.
- Left sided Colitis: In this type of colitis, the inflammation extends further up towards the left side of the large intestine. Symptoms include pain in the left side of the abdomen, bloody stools and unintentional weight loss.
- Pancolitis causes inflammation in the entire large intestine with severe pain & cramps, excessive fatigue, bloody motions & significant weight loss.
- Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis is a typically rare condition in which the entire colon is affected and the patient experiences severe diarrhoea, bleeding, fever & pain
What are the symptoms?
Signs & symptoms of ulcerative colitis tend to differ from one person to another. Also, patients tend to experience periods of no symptoms (disease remission) and also periods of severe symptoms (disease flare up). Some of the common signs of Ulcerative colitis are:
- Abdominal Pain
- Blood in the stools
- Diarrhoea
- Mild fever
- Pain in the rectum
- Unintended weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Pain and/or inflammation in the joints
- Loss of appetite
- Mouth sores
- Inflammation in the eyes
What are the risk factors?
Ulcerative Colitis occurs when the immune system attacks its own body. The white blood cells instead of protecting the lining of the large intestine, begin to attack it causing inflammation & ulcers. There is no conclusive evidence as to why ulcerative colitis t. While genes may play a role, certain factors in the environment may also cause this disease.
Risk Factors of Ulcerative Colitis:
- Age: Ulcerative Colitis commonly occurs in individuals of age group 15 to 30 years and those above 60.
- Family History: Risk increases in individuals who have a parent or sibling with this disease.
- Immune Disorders: If a person has one type of immune disorder, chances of developing a second one are pretty high
- Bacterial or viral infections may trigger the immune system
What are the complications?
- Severe bleeding
- Dehydration
- Osteoporosis
- Inflammation of the skin, joints & eyes
- Increased risk of colon cancer
- Inflammation in the colon
- Increased risk of blood clots in veins & arteries
How is it diagnosed?
- Blood tests to check for anemia or inflammation
- Stool test to detect if there is an infection or parasite in the colon
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Biopsy
- CT Scan
How is it Treated?
Treatment for Ulcerative colitis involves a combination of medications and dietary changes. In some cases, a surgical intervention may be necessary
Surgical Intervention:- Diet: Doctors recommend a balanced diet with lots of fruits & vegetables to ensure the patient receives enough vitamins, minerals & other nutrients.
- Medications: Your gastroenterologist may recommend a combination of the medications such as
- Antibiotics
- Corticosteroids
- Immunomodulators
- Biologics
- Other medications for diarrhoea
- Surgery: A proctolectomy may be recommended in case other treatment methods do not work. Proctolectomy refers to surgical removal of the colon & rectum
