Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine or colon. A form of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis can affect people of all ages, including children, and often includes symptoms like diarrhea, bleeding from the rectum, and abdominal pain and cramping. The treatment for ulcerative colitis includes medication and, in severe cases, surgery.
Causes and Risk Factors
Ulcerative colitis occurs when the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and, as a result, causes ulcers or open sores. The disease can affect anyone, although there are some factors that may increase the risk of developing ulcerative colitis, including:
- Caucasian or of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
- A personal history of other autoimmune disease such as psoriasis.
- A family history of inflammatory bowel disease.
The cause of ulcerative colitis remains unknown. Food and stress do not cause the condition but may trigger a flare-up of symptoms.
Symptoms
The symptoms of ulcerative colitis may vary in frequency and intensity but generally include:
- Diarrhea, often with blood or pus.
- Rectal bleeding — passing small amount of blood with stool.
- Abdominal pain and cramping.
- Rectal pain.
- Urgency to defecate.
- Inability to defecate despite urgency.
- Weight loss.
- Fatigue.
- Fever.
See your doctor right away if you have frequent, bloody diarrhea or rectal bleeding so they can fully evaluate your symptoms, diagnose your condition, and work with you to develop a treatment plan.
Types of Ulcerative Colitis
There are several specific types of ulcerative colitis, depending on its location in the colon:
- Ulcerative proctitis – inflammation is located only in the rectum. Rectal bleeding is the primary – and sometimes only – symptom of this form of the disease.
- Proctosigmoiditis – inflammation is located in the rectum and the lower part of the colon called the sigmoid colon. The most common symptoms of this form of ulcerative colitis include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping on the left side, and the feeling of urgency to defecate.
- Left-sided colitis – inflammation goes from the rectum and includes the sigmoid colon as well as the descending parts of the colon. The most common symptoms of this form of ulcerative colitis are similar to ulcerative proctosigmoiditis.
- Pancolitis – inflammation affects the entire colon. The most common symptoms of this form of ulcerative colitis are similar to left-sided ulcerative colitis but may also include abdominal pain in the middle or on the right side of abdomen.
Ulcerative Colitis vs. Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are often confused because they share some of the same symptoms. Both conditions are forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but affect different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, which runs from the mouth to the rectum.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor may recommend the following tests to evaluate your symptoms and diagnose ulcerative colitis:
- Blood tests.
- Stool tests.
- Imaging tests like computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
- Endoscopic tests like colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy to evaluate the rectum and colon.
Depending on the type of ulcerative colitis you are diagnosed with and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor will likely prescribe a treatment plan that may include medications to manage your disease. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Treatment and Preventing Flare-ups of Ulcerative Colitis
As you work with your doctor to manage your disease, it is important to take steps to recognize triggers for your condition and make lifestyle changes that reduce the likelihood or severity of any flare-ups. Some steps to help prevent flare-ups of your ulcerative colitis include:
- Continuing to take your medications.
- Keeping a food diary so you can be aware of any foods that may trigger a flare-up.
- Avoiding greasy foods and high-fiber foods.
- Avoiding or limiting sugary, carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
- Eating several smaller and lighter meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
- Limiting dairy products.
- Taking steps to limit stress.
- Exercising, or simply vary sitting and standing more often, as you can tolerate.
- Practicing mindful breathing.
Read more about specific dietary recommendations on our ulcerative colitis diet page.
Request an Appointment
Make an appointment with a Cooper IBD specialist if you have concerning symptoms for ulcerative colitis or if you have been diagnosed with the condition and are still experiencing symptoms or a worsening of your symptoms.
To make an appointment with one of our experts in ulcerative colitis, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737) or sue our online appointment request form.