Ulcerative Colitis

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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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• Ulcerative Colitis Overview
• Ulcerative Colitis Causes
• Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Other Therapy
• Next Steps
• Outlook
• Support Groups and Counseling
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Related Colitis articles:
  Colitis - on eMedicineHealth
• Read more on Ulcerative Colitis from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Ulcerative Colitis - Symptoms Experienced

Ulcerative Colitis Overview

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon (the large intestine or bowel). Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and sores (ulcers), in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, called the ileum.

The inflammation makes the colon empty frequently, causing diarrhea. Ulcers form in places where the inflammation has killed the cells linking the colon. The ulcers bleed and produce pus and mucus.

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, the recurrent urge to have a bowel movement (tenesmus), lack of appetite, fever, and fatigue.

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody bowel movements are the hallmark of the disease.

Ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the other is Crohn's disease.

• Ulcerative colitis may be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms may mimic other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.
  
  
• Crohn's disease differs from ulcerative colitis because it causes inflammation deeper within the intestinal wall, and may occur anywhere in the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, and is patchy in nature. While it most often occurs in the small intestine there can be scattered lesions throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon and progresses continuously from the rectum to potentially involve the rest of the colon.

• There are an estimated 2 million people in the United States who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis is generally found in younger people, before they reach age 30. But the disease can also occur in people in their 60s and later in life. It affects both men and women equally, and there is a familial predisposition to its development. Those of Jewish heritage have a higher incidence of ulcerative colitis.