Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the colon, also known as large intestine, and the rectum.

The cause of Ulcerative Colitis is unknown, but immune and genetic factors can influence the development of UC, along with external or environmental factors.

There are certain factors which can raise your risk of UC:

• Family history of the disease. Having a parent, child, or sibling with the disease puts you at higher risk.
• Certain medicines that interfere with the composition of the gut microbiota, such as antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may increase your chance of developing UC.
• Autoimmunity seems to play an important role in developing UC.

The symptoms of UC depend on how severe your inflammation is. The most common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea with blood and mucus
• Urgency
• Cramping and pain in your abdomen
• Weight loss

Some other possible symptoms are:

• Eye redness or pain
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain or soreness
• Skin changes that involve red, tender bumps under the skin

Smoking cessation and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may make some people’s symptoms worse.

• Axial arthropathies, pain and joint deformities in the trunk and pelvis
• Sacroiliitis, an inflammation of the pelvis joints
• Ankylosing spondylitis, an abnormal growth that affects some bones like vertebrae
• Sclerosing cholangitis, a hepatic extraintestinal manifestation associated with a greater risk of colorectal cancer