Awareness of Ulcerative Colitis

Definition:

Chronic episodic inflammatory disease of the large intestine and 
rectum characterized by bloody diarrhea.

Other Info:

Colitis affects any age group but is mostly seen in people 15-30 
and 50-70. Flares can be caused by almost anything including a 
respiratory infection or stress. It also normally runs in 
families and affects 5 out of every 10,000 people.

There is no way to prevent Colitis and its cause is unknown

Symptoms:

diarrhea 10 - 25 times a day, which may include blood and pus
abdominal pain and cramping
abdominal sounds (gurgling or splashing sound)
fever
foul-smelling stools
painful stools (tenesmus)

Symptoms: (Sometimes Associated)

nausea & vomiting
joint pain
gastrointestinal bleeding

Tests involved with Colitis

colonoscopy with biopsy
barium enema

Tests whose results can be altered by Colitis

serum magnesium - test
haptoglobin
complement component 3
complement 
CEA

Treatment: Medicine

Medications are used to control the inflammation and frequency 
of reoccurance. Hospitalization is often required for severe 
attacks.

Treatment: Surgery

Surgery can be used to cure Colitis in some cases with surgery to 
remove the colon.

Prognosis:

This disease has periods of remission and periods of relapse over 
the years. A permanent and complete cure is unusual and the risk 
of cancer increases each decade after diagnosis.

Complications:

perforation of the colon
carcinoma
massive colonic hemorrhage
inflammation of the joints
ankylosing spondylitis
lesions in the eye
mouth ulcers
liver disease
impaired growth and sexual development in children
pyoderma gangrenosum