How does Ulcerative Colitis affect the gut ?
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) causes inflammation and ulceration of the mucosa (inner lining) of the large bowel. Raw areas or ulcers develop on the surface of the lining, and these may bleed and produce pus. The colon is less able to absorb water or hold as much waste and tends to produce more mucus (a natural lubricant). This leads to more frequent and looser bowel actions, experienced as urgency and diarrhoea.
Other common Ulcerative Colitis symptoms include crampy abdominal pain, blood and mucus in stools, a lack of energy, and weight loss. If you lose a lot of blood you may develop anaemia (a reduced number of red blood cells), which can also make you feel very tired.
Ulcerative Colitis sometimes affects just the rectum, in which case it is called proctitis. It may also involve part or all of the colon, as shown below. Ulcerative Colitis affecting the rectum and the sigmoid colon is known as proctosigmoiditis. When the descending colon is involved it is called distal colitis, and when it affects most of the colon or the entire colon, extensive or pancolitis (total colitis).
Exact symptoms tend to vary with the extent of the disease. For more details see our booklet Ulcerative Colitis.
Ulcerative Colitis is sometimes described as a chronic condition. This means that it is ongoing and usually lasts throughout your life, but you may have long periods of good health when the disease is in remission, alternating with flare ups when the symptoms are much more severe. Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis may be medical or surgical, or a combination of both.
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) causes inflammation and ulceration of the mucosa (inner lining) of the large bowel. Raw areas or ulcers develop on the surface of the lining, and these may bleed and produce pus. The colon is less able to absorb water or hold as much waste and tends to produce more mucus (a natural lubricant). This leads to more frequent and looser bowel actions, experienced as urgency and diarrhoea.
Other common Ulcerative Colitis symptoms include crampy abdominal pain, blood and mucus in stools, a lack of energy, and weight loss. If you lose a lot of blood you may develop anaemia (a reduced number of red blood cells), which can also make you feel very tired.
Ulcerative Colitis sometimes affects just the rectum, in which case it is called proctitis. It may also involve part or all of the colon, as shown below. Ulcerative Colitis affecting the rectum and the sigmoid colon is known as proctosigmoiditis. When the descending colon is involved it is called distal colitis, and when it affects most of the colon or the entire colon, extensive or pancolitis (total colitis).
Exact symptoms tend to vary with the extent of the disease. For more details see our booklet Ulcerative Colitis.
Ulcerative Colitis is sometimes described as a chronic condition. This means that it is ongoing and usually lasts throughout your life, but you may have long periods of good health when the disease is in remission, alternating with flare ups when the symptoms are much more severe. Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis may be medical or surgical, or a combination of both.
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