Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease. In Ulcerative colitis, the immune system attacks antibodies in the gastrointestinal tract and causes an inflammatory process - this can occur in the lower part of the colon and rectum - Unlike Crohn's disease which can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract from the mouth / esophagus to the rectum.

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis

The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea (which can be bloody and porridge-like if the disease is active - this is the most characteristic symptom of ulcerative colitis) and anemia. Unlike Crohn's disease, it is not common with fever - and if the person diagnosed with UC has a high fever, this may indicate a serious illness.

Other symptoms can be a variety of symptoms that occur in autoimmune diseases, including general inflammatory processes in the body and joints.

Clinical signs

As mentioned above under 'symptoms'.

Diagnosis and cause

The cause of ulcerative colitis is not known, but it is believed that the disease is caused by a number of factors, including epigenetic, immunological and genetic.

The diagnosis is made through a series of studies, including biopsy, imaging and thorough medical history. The best test to examine for the disease is endoscopy. Other tests that can be performed are blood tests, electrolyte studies, X-rays, urine analysis and liver function testing.

Who is affected by the disease?

The disease affects 1 - 3 per 1000 inhabitants in Europe and America. It has been seen that the condition is more common in northern Europe than southern Europe. The condition usually starts at the age of 15 - 25 years - but can in rare cases start at other ages as well, especially at the age of 60 and up.

Treatment

There are no medications or surgeries that can cure ulcerative colitis, but a number of medications and the like have been developed that can relieve symptoms depending on the symptoms being treated. Adapted diet can be very useful in the treatment of the condition - therefore feel free to contact a clinical nutritionist for examination and setup of food program. High fiber content can be helpful, and oatmeal is often popular with those suffering from ulcerative colitis.

- Can nicotine treatment be good for ulcerative colitis?

In contrast to Crohn's disease, where smoking has been seen to irritate the condition, the opposite effect of smoking and nicotine has been seen among those suffering from ulcerative colitis - therefore it may be relevant to use nicotine patches in the treatment. A larger study in England showed a complete improvement in symptoms in 48% of those who used nicotine in treatment. Another similar study in the USA showed similar results with 39% reporting complete improvement in the nicotine group versus only 9% in the placebo group.

Related theme: Stomach ache? You should know this

Also read: - Complete overview of autoimmune diseases