Ulcerative Colitis symptoms can vary, depending on the severity of inflammation and where it occurs. Therefore, doctors often classify ulcerative colitis according to its location.You may have the following signs and symptoms, depending on which part of the colon is inflamed.
- Diarrhea, often with blood or pus
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Rectal pain
- Rectal bleeding — passing small amount of blood with stool
- Urgency to defecate
- Inability to defecate despite urgency
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever In children
- Failure to grow
Ulcerative colitis is classified according to how much of your colon is affected. The condition can be mild and limited to the rectum (ulcerative proctitis). Or it can affect additional parts of your colon, generally with more severe symptoms. People who develop ulcerative colitis at a younger age are more likely to have severe symptoms.See your doctor if you experience a persistent change in your bowel habits or if you have signs and symptoms such as: Abdominal pain,blood in your stool,ongoing diarrhea that doesn`t respond to over-the-counter medications,diarrhea that awakens you from sleep ,an unexplained fever lasting more than a day or two.Although ulcerative colitis usually isn`t fatal, it`s a serious disease that, in some cases, may cause life-threatening complications.
The exact cause of ulcerative colitis remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected, but now doctors know that these factors may aggravate but don`t cause ulcerative colitis.One possible cause is an immune system malfunction. When your immune system tries to fight off an invading virus or bacterium, an abnormal immune response causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract, too.Heredity also seems to play a role in that ulcerative colitis is more common in people who have family members with the disease. However, most people with ulcerative colitis don`t have this family history.
Ulcerative Colitis affects about the same number of women and men.
Risk factors may include:
Age: Ulcerative colitis usually begins before the age of 30. But, it can occur at any age, and some people may not develop the disease until after age 60.
Race or ethnicity: Although whites have the highest risk of the disease, it can occur in any race. If you`re of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, your risk is even higher.
Family history: You`re at higher risk if you have a close relative, such as a parent, sibling or child, with the disease.
Isotretinoin use: Isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret; formerly Accutane) is a medication sometimes used to treat scarring cystic acne or acne. Some studies suggest it is a risk factor for IBD, but a clear association between ulcerative colitis and isotretinoin has not been established.
Possible complications of Ulcerative Colitis include:
- Severe bleeding
- A hole in the colon (perforated colon)
- Severe dehydration
- Liver disease (rare)
- Bone loss (osteoporosis)
- Inflammation of your skin, joints and eyes,
- Sores in the lining of your mouth
- An increased risk of colon cancer
- A rapidly swelling colon (toxic megacolon)
- Increased risk of blood clots in veins and arteries
