Ulcerative Colitis

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Ulcerative colitis is one of the most common forms of inflammatory bowel Disease (IBD), a long-term disease that causes a swollen small intestine and colon. When these tissues become inflamed or swollen, sores (ulcers) form and bleed. Symptoms include:

• diarrhea that can be bloody
• rectal bleeding
• mucus (a clear liquid) in the stool
• nausea (the feeling of wanting to throw up) and throwing up
• fever
• weight loss without a certain reason
• pain and tenderness in the lower right side of your abdomen
• slowed growth and delayed sexual development (mostly seen in children with IBD)

Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. It is diagnosed with the following tests:

• blood and stool samples — looks for blood or infection
• barium enema x-ray — looks for problems in the colon (the doctor puts barium into your bowel through the anus and x-rays are taken)
• colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy — looks for problems in the lining of the colon (a thin, flexible tube is put into the colon through the anus)
• upper gastro intestinal (GI) series — looks for problems in the small intestine (you drink a liquid and x-rays are taken)

It can be treated with:

• medicines to control inflammation and relieve symptoms
• surgery to remove the colon or diseased parts of the bowel

No one knows for sure what causes IBD, but researchers suspect it may be a bacterium (germ) or virus. It most often occurs in young people between the ages of 15 and 40.