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Ulcerative Colitis

Home > Illnesses and Disabilities Home > Types of Illnesses & Disabilities > Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation (pain and swelling) and sores (called ulcers) in the lining of the large intestine (or colon). It is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines.

The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are pain in the belly and bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms include:

• fatigue (feeling really tired)
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• loss of body fluids and nutrients
• skin ulcers
• joint pain
• growth failure (in children)

Ulcerative colitis can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those of another type of IBD called Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative colitis can be treated with:

• medicines to reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms
• surgery to remove the colon

The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown. It may involve a problem with the body's defense system, called the immune system. In ulcerative colitis, the immune system may mistakenly attack something in the intestines. The disease seems to run in some families, so genes may play a role. The disease usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Frequently Asked Questions - Inflammatory Bowel Disease - This publication explains the causes, symptoms, complications and treatment options for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn's disease.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/ibd.htm

2.   Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery - When the intestines are removed, the body needs a new way for stool to leave the body, so an opening is created in the abdomen for stool to pass through. This surgery is called ostomy. The opening is called a stoma. This fact sheet discusses this surgery.

   http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ileostomy/index.htm

3.   Ulcerative Colitis - This publication explains what ulcerative colitis is and describes the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

   http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colitis/index.htm

4.   Ulcerative Colitis Interactive Tutorial (Copyright © PEI) - This interactive tutorial explains what ulcerative colitis is, what causes it, what the symptoms are, and how it is treated.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/ulcerativecolitis.html

5. About Ulcerative Colitis & Proctitis (Copyright © CCFA) - This on-line publication discusses the causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis and treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.

   http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/ucp

6. Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis (Copyright © CCFA) - This publication contains information on when surgery for ulcerative colitis may be necessary, what types of surgery can be done, and how to choose the one that is best for you.

   http://www.ccfa.org/info/surgery/surgeryuc

Organizations

1.   National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, NIH, HHS
2. American College of Gastroenterology
3. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
4. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc.

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated May 15, 2008.