Ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, affects the large intestine, causing inflammation and ulcers. Abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss are common symptoms. Diagnosis involves colonoscopy, biopsies, and blood tests, enabling appropriate treatment and management of this condition.
What Is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the large intestine. It causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum. The inflammation can lead to a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss.
Ulcerative colitis is a relapsing-remitting condition, which means that it can flare up and then go into remission. The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, but it is thought to be related to the immune system and genetics. It is more common in people who have a family history of the disease.
Ulcerative colitis can affect people of all ages, but it is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 15 and 30. It is more common in women than in men.
Recognizing Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
The most common symptom of ulcerative colitis is abdominal pain. The pain is typically located in the lower left side of the abdomen and can be cramping or sharp. Other common symptoms include:
- Bloody diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
In some cases, ulcerative colitis can also lead to complications such as anemia, dehydration, and malnutrition. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor right away.
Diagnosing Ulcerative Colitis
The diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is based on a variety of factors, including the patient’s symptoms, a physical examination, and the results of various tests. The most common test used to diagnose ulcerative colitis is a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end is inserted into the colon and rectum. This allows the doctor to visualize the inside of the colon and rectum and look for any signs of inflammation or ulcers.
Other tests that may be used to diagnose ulcerative colitis include:
- Biopsies: Small samples of tissue from the colon and rectum may be taken during a colonoscopy and examined under a microscope to look for signs of inflammation or ulcers.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can be used to check for anemia, dehydration, and other complications of ulcerative colitis.
- Stool tests: Stool tests can be used to check for the presence of blood, bacteria, or parasites in the stool.
Learning More About Ulcerative Colitis
If you have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, there are a number of resources available to help you learn more about the disease and how to manage it. Some helpful resources include:
- The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
- The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- The American Gastroenterological Association