Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract that damages the large intestine. It can lead to repeated diarrhea, bloody feces, abdominal pain, extreme fatigue, decreased appetite and weight loss. The course of the disease proceeds with occasional exacerbations and silent periods. Ulcerative colitis can affect people of all ages, but is usually diagnosed between 15-25 years of age. It is equally found among women and men. There is no definitive treatment. The preferred treatment, which aims at reducing inflammation, is drug therapy. Surgical intervention is more rare.
Table of Contents
Ulcerative colitis is an intestinal disease that causes long-term inflammation and ulcers in digestive tract. It affects the mucosa covering inner side of large intestine (colon) and the rectum. Ulcerative colitis can lead to complications that cause the body to degrade and can even cause death. Symptoms usually develop over time and vary depending on location and severity of the disease.
What is Gastritis? Causes, symptoms, treatment and natural healing
Ulcerative colitis is considered to be an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system, which is the body’s defense system, attacks healthy tissues. Although it is not known what causes the immune system to behave in this way, most experts believe it is the result of a consolidated effect of genetic and environmental factors.
Ulcerative colitis is caused by autoimmune system
What is indigestion (dyspepsia)? Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Your doctor will examine you after he/she hears your health history. If necessary, the following tests may be required:
What is pathology? What does a pathologist do? Tests and reports
The choice of treatment is based on degree of disease activity, development of the disease, the frequency of relapses, symptoms outside the intestine, previous medications, side effects of drugs and the preference of patient.
The aim of medications in ulcerative colitis is to prevent/suppress the inflammatory activity of the colon mucosa and to put the disease into a silent period. Depending on the severity of the disease, one or many drugs may be preferred.
Ulcerative colitis surgery, also known as colectomy, involves taking all or a part of the large intestine. The small intestine is connected to the anus to discharge the waste from the body instead of the large intestine. Conditions requiring surgery in ulcerative colitis:
Surgical procedures in ulcerative colitis is depending on severity of the disease:
Subtotal colectomy is the most common surgical method in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and usually allows the pouch surgery to be performed at a later date. During this procedure, surgeon removes the colon, but leaves the rectum. Then he/she opens a hole into the abdominal wall and connects this hole to the end of the small intestine.
Vitamin E for health: Benefits, uses, deficiency and side effects
This operation is called ileostomy or stoma. Special bags are placed on this hole for the collection of post-operative wastes. In subtotal colectomy, ileostomy can be temporary or permanent. Depending on the patient’s condition, the end of the small intestine can then be placed in the anus.
This procedure is usually referred to as pouch surgery. This procedure requires two or three operations. In the first operation, the surgeon removes the entire colon, but leaves the rectum and the anus. As with subtotal colectomy, a temporary ileostomy is done to collect waste from digestion. At this stage, patients usually quit their ulcerative colitis drugs. During the second operation, the lower end of the small intestine is connected to the anus in order to form a pouch.
The pouch aims to alter the function of the rectum and stores the stool until it is discharged from the body. Ileostomy usually gives this pouch a recovery period of three months. This temporary ileostomy can then be closed in the second or third operation.
The advantage of this surgery is that you can pass stools. Because a pouch cannot fully perform the function of a healthy colon, many people may experience intestinal activation 6 to 8 times a day.
In this operation, the large intestine is removed including the rectum up to the anal canal. Once the large intestine is removed, intestinal continuity should be ensured. Therefore, the small intestine is connected to the abdomen by opening a hole. Special bags are placed on this hole for the collection of post-operative wastes. Although this operation is non-reversible, there is no risk of developing inflammation or bowel cancer.
Some of the procedures above can be performed by laparoscopic surgery. Instead of making a big hole in the abdominal wall, the surgeon makes four or five small incisions, each of which is only about 1 cm long. Small tubes are passed through incisions and a harmless gas is given to inflate abdomen a little bit to create more space for the surgeon.
A thin tube with light and camera on the tip called laparoscope examines the abdomen. Laparoscopic operations take longer than open surgery, but have advantages such as less pain, smaller surgical scars, and rapid recovery.
There is no definitive herbal treatment of ulcerative colitis, but some studies have shown that some plants provide relief in symptoms. You should consult your doctor before attempting any herbal treatment for your illness. Some recommended plants are:
What are the benefits of Turmeric? Uses, side effects and dosage
In ulcerative colitis, some nutrients worsen symptoms in some people. Frequent and small amounts of food can help you control the symptoms. Low-fiber foods during the exacerbation of the disease may sometimes contribute to the alleviation of symptoms. For example:
Because your body will lose liquid due to diarrhea, you should drink plenty of water. By consulting your physician, it may be beneficial to take minerals and vitamins such as iron and calcium.
The mortality rate is higher in elderly patients and patients with complications such as malnutrition and anemia. The most common cause of death in ulcerative colitis patients is toxic megacolon.
The risk of developing bowel cancer is higher in patients with ulcerative colitis. Since abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, which are symptoms of bowel cancer, are also seen in ulcerative colitis, patients are often unaware of the situation. Therefore, it is usually helpful to have a colonoscopy done 10 years after the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. In addition, the use of aminosalicylated drugs reduces the risk of cancer development.
Resources and References:
1- What is ulcerative colitis?2- Symptoms of ulcerative colitis3- Ulcerative ColitisSHARE ARTICLE
DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT?