Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is an intestinal disease that affects the large intestine, also known as the colon, causing long-term inflammation and ulcers (wounds). In general, this disease is present when the inflammation of the large intestine is followed by wound formation (ulcer).

Ulcerative Colitis

It is a disease that must be kept under control as it affects the quality of life very badly and can cause weakness and even death. It affects the mucous membrane of the large intestine, the inner surface of the colon.

It can be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn's disease, which often have less serious effects. There is a very fundamental difference between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, which is that ulcerative colitis occurs only in the large intestine, while Crohn's disease occurs in both the small intestine and large intestine.

The incidence of ulcerative colitis is the same in men and women. It is a disease that can be seen in all age groups. Genetic factors slightly increase the risk of developing this disease.

What Are the Types of Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis can be divided into types according to the parts of the intestine that are affected.

Ulcerative proctitis: In this type of ulcerative colitis, the inflammation is in the region close to the rectum (anus) and is known as the mildest form of ulcerative colitis compared to other types.

Proctosigmoiditis: In this type of ulcerative colitis, areas close to the rectum and the last part of the colon (sigmoid part) are affected. Feeling cramps in the abdomen, bloody diarrhea, and the inability to go to the toilet despite feeling the desire to go to the toilet are among the frequently seen symptoms in this type.

Distal ulcerative colitis or just distal colitis: The inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis affects the left side up to the spleen in this variant. It is a type that can cause cramps in the abdominal region and especially pain in the left side of the abdomen, bloody diarrhea and weight loss.

Pancolitis: It usually affects the entire large intestine. Symptoms such as abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss are more severe in this type.

Fulminant colitis: This type of ulcerative colitis is usually rare but can be life-threatening. Symptoms include severe pain and diarrhea, bleeding, fever and inability to eat. Severe diarrhea can sometimes lead to dehydration and shock.

What are the Causes of Ulcerative Colitis?

Although the exact cause of ulcerative colitis is not known, it is known that it is not a contagious disease. It is also possible to put ulcerative colitis in the class of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases occur as a result of the attack of the defense system in the body to healthy parts. Although the reason why the defense system attacks healthy tissues is not known exactly, it is thought that many factors work together in this regard. Malnutrition also plays an important role in the development of ulcerative colitis. Stomach acid disorders due to malnutrition are also among the factors that can cause ulcerative colitis. Environmental factors in heavy industrial cities are especially effective on ulcerative colitis. The stressful life, excessive use of drugs, pregnancies are also among the factors that can cause ulcerative colitis.

What are the Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?

As with any disease, symptoms may differ depending on the patient's condition and the part of the disease. The most common symptoms are:

-Feeling of cramping in the abdomen.

-Abdominal bloating.

-Anemia.

-Loss of appetite and resulting weight loss.

-Ailments affecting the various guts, such as diarrhea or constipation.

-Constant desire to defecate, but sometimes not being able to defecate.

-Mucus defecation.

-Seeing blood in the faeces.

-Fever and chills.

-Weakness.

-Vomiting.

-Rectal pain.

-Appearance of skin rashes.

-Impairment of liver functions.

-Redness and burning sensation in the eyes, inflammation of the outer layer of the eye (Episcleritis).

-Inflammation of the lens of the eye (Iritis).

What Other Diseases Can Cause Ulcerative Colitis?

-Thickening of the large intestine wall.

-Hole formation in the colon wall.

-Bleeding in the gut and sometimes seen in the faeces.

-Excessive dehydration due to symptomatic diarrhea.

-Adversely affecting the immune system as a result of sepsis, which is a condition of mixing bacteria or toxins into the blood.

-Certain liver conditions.

-Increased risk of clotting.

How Is Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosed?

In case of symptoms, it is necessary to consult the relevant physician. The physician takes the patient's history and may request some tests that he deems necessary after performing a physical examination. Some examinations and tests that may be requested:

Blood tests:  Anemia and blood inflammation can be understood by this test.

Stool sample tests:  They detect some bleeding conditions that are not seen in the stool but are in the intestines. It is a test that allows the physician to detect different infections or parasites in the colon for treatment.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy:  Insertion of a light and camera through the rectum to view the lower part of the colon. A small sample for biopsy may also be taken from the lower part of the colon if deemed necessary during this procedure.

Colonoscopy:  The difference from the flexible sigmoidoscopy procedure is that in this imaging method, not only the lower part of the colon but also the entire large intestine can be looked at. During this imaging, a blue dye can be sprayed to identify areas affected by ulcerative colitis. This dye-sprayed procedure is also called chromoendoscopy.

X-ray is an imaging technique that can be used, rarely, in the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Before X-ray is taken, the patient's intestines should be emptied with a barium enema so that imaging can be performed more accurately.