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Ulcerative colitis does not discriminate. It can afflict any age, any gender. It is one of the Inflammatory Bowel diseases (along with Crohn’s Disease), and IBD, either in the form of Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s is suffered by 2-6% of the American population. About 200,000 of these cases are children.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic intestinal disorder, but with proper medication, diet, and precautions, it doesn’t need to drastically alter the quality of life in its sufferers.
The causes of the IBDs are unknown, but one thought is that a bacterium or virus could be the initial cause. Often the first signs appear during young adulthood, but that is not a steadfast rule. There is also some indication that this disease can run in families.
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis include severe and persistent pain in the abdomen, sores of the bowel, diarrhea/stool softening, bleeding from the intestine, weight loss, and perhaps fever. Due to the blood loss, anemia can become a problem. Joint pain and skin/eye problems may also manifest as a problem.
Triggers for this disease are varied. Often an element in the diet can set off a flare. There is not an accepted specialized diet, but avoiding foods that upset the intestine is a good place to start. This may include highly seasoned foods and lactose (milk and dairy products.) In addition to food choices, it is thought that stress is also a factor in UC flaring.
The treatment for UC must be individualized for each patient. What one might respond to, another will not. Many times, a drug called sulfasalazine is used either by itself or with additional drugs. In a small number of patients, side effects that might include vomiting, allergic reaction (rash), headache, and diarrhea appear with sulfasalazine. If it can not be tolerated, patients are sometimes given related anti-inflammatory drugs called 5-ASA agents. These might include Mesalamine and Olsalazine.
If the sulfasalazine drugs can not be taken, adrenal steroids might be prescribed. These are to help control the inflammation associated with UC. Two common drugs of this type are prednisone and hydrocortisone. These come in different forms that are suppository, enema, or those for oral administration.
If the entire colon is involved with the disease, risk of colon cancer increases, but if only the lower colon and rectum are affected, the cancer risk isn’t higher than is normal. Patients who develop dysplasia (pre-cancerous changes in the cells) need to have regular exams which might include a colonoscopy and/or a biopsy.
If there is much bleeding, if the colon becomes perforated, or if there is a high risk of cancer, surgery may be necessary. About 25% of UC patients face a surgery at some point. A surgery would include removal of part or all of the colon. There is more than one option when it comes to surgery.
If the patient finds out that surgery is necessary, it is imperative that all options are thoroughly explored and researched. Having to undergo this surgery does not automatically mean that quality of life will be greatly changed.
New treatments for Ulcerative Colitis are now being clinically investigated. Questions about new treatments can and should be answered by your physician.
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