Ulcerative Colitis - Symptoms, Cure, and More
If you have abdominal pain that is accompanied by a repetitive bowel movement and bloody diarrhea, chances are you have Ulcerative Colitis. Although thorough research and a medical test would be reliable to say whether it is Ulcerative Colitis or not, such symptoms most time leads to Ulcerative Colitis.
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative Colitis is an irritable bowel disease that is the result of inflammation of the rectum and large intestine. The severity of Ulcerative Colitis depends on how damaged the colon is. The inflammation comes to notice when it reaches the rectum, close to where solid excretion happens, the anus. At that stage, it is called Ulcerative Proctitis.
The colon and the rectum are what decides the severity of Ulcerative Colitis. There is a chance that it happens on both sides no matter the size of the locations; rectum being the small and colon the large area. People may confuse Ulcerative Colitis and Colitis as similar diseases. Colitis simply means irritation of the colon whereas Ulcerative Colitis is more severe and long-term.
Even though it can happen to any age group, studies show that individuals between 15 and 30 years old are the most in cases. The probability drops in the age group between 50 and 70 years old.
Ulcerative Colitis is common in the following groups although it can happen at any:
⦁ Genetically prone to irritable bowel diseases
⦁ Age group between 15 and 30 years old
⦁ The Jewish Community -- four times than any community
⦁ Uses Advil, Ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory drugs frequently
Ulcerative Colitis and Symptoms
The main cause or factor leading up to Ulcerative Colitis has been a complex assignment to those in medical fields as several factors are leading up to Ulcerative Colitis. The symptoms can vary but the most common ones are those listed below.
Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
⦁ Bloody Diarrhea, may not be seen at an early stage
⦁ Stomach cramping could worsen with time
⦁ Significant loss of weight
⦁ Pain in eyes, joints, and skin
⦁ Liver disease that is seen after a certain time
⦁ Fever, nausea, and tiredness
Ulcerative Colitis and Diagnoses
Early detection and report of the disease would be advisable in any case, but since Ulcerative Colitis could be severe. Since the symptoms listed above could be for other bowel diseases, a medical test is a must in diagnosing.
You will be ordered to provide the following tests:
Blood test: is needed to detect the presence of anemia, which is caused by the low level of hemoglobin in your blood. If anemia is detected, it shows that there has been bleeding in the suspected areas: the colon and/or the rectum.
Stool sample: a common test among bowel diseases. This test provides answers to if any parasitic organism is present. Since the infection and inflammation signs could be detected from your poop, this is an effective test.
Imaging: you guessed it right, a test that requires an image of your colon and rectum. Two imaging systems are used here; CT scan and MRI scan. They provide an accurate and near to precise result.
Colonoscopy: is an endoscopic test in which a thin tube with a tiny camera is inserted through the anus to check for any inflammation or infection on your colon or rectum. It can create any discomfort since it is a sensitive area of treatment. It could last from thirty minutes to an hour.
Sigmoidoscopy: another endoscopic test, advisable if the symptoms are shown in the lower abdomen. It could last up to twenty minutes. This is different from colonoscopy because it inspects.
Ulcerative Colitis and Treatments
After your tests are processed and the result is Ulcerative Colitis, treatment is your next move. There are no proven cures for Ulcerative Colitis and the best that could be done is to treat it to return you to your normal state. The treatment also varies from person to person, medications and surgery has been the most treatment methods used.
Medication
⦁ Azulfidine
⦁ Deltasone
⦁ Purixan
⦁ Remicade
Surgery
⦁ Ileostomy
⦁ J-pouch surgery
