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He is one of the best gastroenterology doctors I have ever visited. Took my uncle for stomach pain, the doctor did endoscopy & colonoscopy, diagnosed the problem as large intestine cancer, the doctor asked a...
Uma V
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The doctor is extremely professional and polite. He explains the problem patiently and does not prescribe unnecessary medication. He gives priority to the patient's well-being over everything. I Will definitely recommend him
Chandrasekhar Sriramula
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I have referred/recommended a couple of my relatives and friends to this Dr (Dr. Srujan Kumar Dasyam). I say that the diagnosis and treatment are good and also Dr listens patiently in understanding the patient's...
Apoorva Reddy Panyala
Table Of Contents
- What is Ulcerative Colitis?
- What Causes Ulcerative Colitis?
- What are the Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?
- How is Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosed?
- What are the Complications of Ulcerative Colitis?
- How to Treat Ulcerative Colitis?
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
It is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers in the GI tract. Inflammation occurs in the large intestine and colon, leading to sores.
What Causes Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease. The immune system unknowingly attacks healthy cells of the colon and rectum lining. It tends to run in families as a genetic disorder.
People with an overactive immune system are also prone to ulcerative colitis.
What are the Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis depend on the severity. These may include:
- Urgency to defecate but unable to do so
- Feeling the need to wake up from sleep to have bowel movements
- Passing blood with stool
- Pain in the rectum
- Diarrhoea often with pus
- Weight loss
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Soreness in joints
- Irritated eyes
The symptoms generally tend to come and go periodically; however, sometimes, they might last for a more extended period.
How is Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosed?
Endoscopic procedures provide a precise diagnosis of the condition.
- Colonoscopy: A colonoscope is used to view the entire colon.
- Stool tests white blood cells in stool indicate ulcerative colitis
- Blood tests to check for anemia
- X-Ray to rule out any perforations in the colon.
- CT enterography
- MRI
What are the Complications of Ulcerative Colitis?
Possible complications include:
- Skin, joints and eyes inflammation
- Bone loss
- Severe dehydration
- Colon swelling
- Increased risk of blood clots
- Toxic megacolon
- Perforation in the colon
- Severe bleeding
- Increased risk of colorectal cancer
How to Treat Ulcerative Colitis?
Medications, as well as dietary changes, form the basis of the treatment regime.
Dietary changes include avoiding some specific variety of food that can flare up the condition. It includes preventing the usage of:
- Dairy goods like milk, yoghurt, cheese,
- Meals that are fried, greasy, and hot
- Bread made with whole grains and multigrain
- Lentils and beans
- Artificial sweeteners
- Red meat
Medications might not be able to cure ulcerative colitis, but they can reduce or eliminate symptoms. They function by reducing gastrointestinal inflammation:
- Corticosteroids, to decrease inflammation and hyperactive immune response
- Aminosalicylates to calm down the symptoms
- Immunomodulators to help reduce the activity of the immune system
- Medications to decrease bowel movements
- Medications to reduce diarrhoea
When symptoms are severe, and there is an increased risk of cancer, surgery becomes the last treatment option. It involves removing the colon or rectum or sometimes both.
