Burney, M., McEvery, S., & Kauari, V., (2006). What is ulcerative colitis? National Digestive Diseases Information, No 6-1597
Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease in which the inflammation can occur in separate parts of the small intestine and colon. There are many intestinal diseases all with very similar symptoms thus, making them difficult to diagnose. This disease may affect people of any age, but usually starts between the ages of 15 to 30 and affects both men and women equally.
If the inflammation is occurring in the rectum and lower part of the colon it is defined as ulcerative proctitis and if the entire colon is involved it is called pancolitis. If only the left side of the colon is affected it is then called limited or distal colitis. This disease causes inflammation and sores called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon, this then causes bleeding and pus which causes diarrhea.
This disease is quite manageable and approximately half of those affected have mild symptoms. The other 50% can suffer frequent fevers, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal cramps. Ulcerative Colitis can also cause problems such as arthritis, inflammation of the eye, liver disease, and osteoporosis. Some of these conditions have been known to go away when the colitis is treated.
There are many theories that exist about what causes ulcerative colitis. People with the disease have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors are unsure if these abnormalities are a cause or result. It is believed that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally to bacteria in the digestive tract. Emotional stress nor certain foods are not known causes but can be triggers.
