What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon. The disease can affect only a small part of the colon or the entire colon. Ulcerative Colitis can occur in people of any age, but it starts early in life, usually between the ages of 15 and 30. It appears to run in families and affects men and women equally.

Ulcerative Colitis is sometime difficult to diagnose from a related condition called Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease differs from Ulcerative Colitis in that the ulcers in this disease are deeper within the intestinal wall and these ulcers can also occur in other parts of the digestive tract including mouth, stomach and small intestine.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis are

• Rectal bleeding
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Anemia
• Fatigue

Causes

Ulcerative Colitis results due to in the immune system . However, the exact cause is unknown. The body’s immune system is thought to react abnormally to the digestive tract. Even though the exact cause of Ulcerative Colitis is unknown, emotional stress and sensitivity to certain foods may trigger symptoms in some patients.

Risk factors

Ulcerative colitis affects about the same number of men and women. Risk factors may include:

Age. Ulcerative colitis usually begin before the age of 30. But it can occur at any age, and some people may not develop the disease until the age of 60..

Race or ethnicity. Although whites have the highest risk of the disease, it can occur in any race.

Family history. You at a higher risk, if you have a close family member, such as a parent, child or sibling, with the disease.

Complications

Complications of ulcerative include:

• Severe bleeding
• A hole in the colon (perforation)
• A rapidly swelling colon (toxic megacolon)
• Severe dehydration
• An increased risk of colon cancer
• Severe dehydration
• Bone loss (osteoporosis)
• Inflammation of your skin, joints and eyes