ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Ulcerative colitis is a common, chronic disease of large intestine which is caused by severe ulceration that begins in the rectum and extend to the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis usually affects the large intestine and rarely affects the small intestine. It usually starts at younger age between 20-30 years age and occasionally affects the older people. Ulcerative colitis patients are at the higher risk of developing colon cancer.

CAUSES OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS-

• Hereditary – Genetic predisposition.
• Abnormal immunity
• May be due to some micro-organisms but not sure.
• Mental stress may increase the symptoms.

SYMPTOMS-

• Sudden cramps in lower abdomen leading to severe diarrhea of bloody stool with mucus.
• Colicky lower abdomen pain which is relieved after passing stool.
• General symptoms – mild fever with weakness.
• If the disease is limited to the rectum the stool may be normal with mild blood and mucus.
• If the disease has extended to the large intestine the stool gets more loosen and frequency of stool increases. Severe abdominal pain with spasms. The stool gets more watery with mucus and blood. The patient may have high fever with loss of appetite and weakness.
• Other symptoms – Joint pain, nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers or skin ulcers are also seen.

DAGNOSIS-

The diagnosis can be made based on patients symptom history and stool examination.

Sigmoidoscopy is another way to diagnose the condition. It is an examination of sigmoid colon with the help of small tube that helps to determine the severity of inflammation of sigmoid colon.

Colonoscopy helps to screen the patients of ulcerative colitis for colon cancer. If there is a requirement biopsy is done for further evaluation of disease.

X-ray of abdomen also helps to diagnose the condition.

TREATMENT –

• Diet – Raw vegetables should be avoided in order to reduce the inflammation of large intestine. Reduce the intake of dairy products if you are lactose intolerant but do not completely stop the intake. Avoid fatty and oily food.
• Iron supplements – Intake of iron tablets in order to recover from the blood loss.
• Try to manage your stress by involving yourself in creative activity which will help to divert your mind from stress.
• Homeopathy- It is the branch of medicine that deals with the individual as a whole and is helpful to treat the Ulcerative colitis. As most of the patients suffer from ulcerative colitis due to increase in mental stress level, homeopathy is the good option for those people.
• Yoga- Yoga is another way to relax your mind and body.
• Allopathy treatment – Many medicines can relieve the symptoms but the chances of returning back of those symptoms are more.
• Surgery – Surgery is required if there is the chance of cancer or precancerous condition is observed during the colonoscopy. Also if the patient is not responding to any kind of oral treatment, surgery is the only option.

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