Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition in which the both the colon as well as the rectum are inflamed. Small-sized ulcers might form in the coating of the colon and can bleed and drain pus.
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It is believed to be an auto-immune ailment where the immune system malfunctions and attacks the healthy tissues. If the individual has ulcerative colitis, the immune system wrongly identifies the harmless bacteria within the colon as a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, resulting to inflammation.
What are the signs?
The main signs of ulcerative colitis include:
- Abdominal pain
- Recurring episodes of diarrhea that might include mucus, pus or blood
- Urge to empty the bowel frequently
Recurring episodes of diarrhea that might include mucus, pus or blood.
There is also fatigue, weight loss and appetite loss. The seriousness of the symptoms tends to vary, depending on how much of the colon and rectum is inflamed and seriousness of the inflammation. In some individuals, the condition has a big impact on daily life.
Signs of a flare-up
Some individuals might only have mild symptoms for weeks or months or none and followed by phases where the symptoms are troublesome.
During a flare-up, some also experience symptoms in other parts of the body such as:
- Mouth ulcers
- Sore and enlarged joints
- Reddened and irritated eyes
- Painful, swollen and reddened skin
In severe cases which is defined as emptying the bowel 6 or more times in a day, additional symptoms might be present such as:
- Rapid or erratic heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Blood-streaked stools
Management of ulcerative colitis
The treatment for this condition is aimed on alleviating the signs once a flare-up occurs as well as preventing the symptoms from recurring.
In most cases, this is attained with the help of drugs such as:
- Corticosteroids
- Aminosalicylates
- Immunosuppressants
For mild to moderate flare-ups, they can be managed at home. Nevertheless, severe flare-ups must be treated in a healthcare facility to lower the risk for serious complications such as overstretching of the colon and enlargement or development of large ulcers. Both can increase the risk for developing a hole or gap in the bowel.
In case drugs are not effective in controlling the symptoms or the quality of life is significantly disrupted, surgery for removal of the colon might be an option.