Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine. The large intestine or colon is part of the digestive system where waste toxin is kept. The rectum is the end of the colon next to the anus. It is the passageway in excreting fecal matters. Patient who has ulcerative colitis suffer from inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Ulcerative colitis is related to another intestine disease called Chron’s disease. Ulcerative colitis affects men and women during adolescent and adulthood. High risk is frequently seen in developing countries. Ulcerative disease and chron’s disease my differ in some aspects. The abnormality terminal ileum in ulcerative colitis is very seldom. Colon and rectum health involvement is very significant. Anal involvement is also seldom. The patient suffering from ulcerative colitis has a higher risk of bile duct inflammation. In Endoscopy ulcerative colitis shows a contionuous ulceration of colon lining. The degree of inflammation involves only the mucosa. Ulcerative colitis is a form of IBD or inflammatory bowel disease. Like Chron’s disease, Ulcerative colitis cause is also unknown. It is likewise assumed to be genetic in nature.

 

Causes of Ulcerative Colitis

 

The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown. To date, there has no substantial evidence that this disease is neither by infection nor contagious.Ulcerative colitis is caused by abnormal activation of the immune system in the intestines. The immune system is made up of cells and proteins that these cells produce. The cells and proteins serve to defend the body against harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other foreign invaders. In ulcerative colitis, the immune cells instead of protecting our body fights against itself making our body immunity lowered.

 

The common symptoms of ulcerative disease are diarrhea characterized by blood streak.

 

Ulcerative colitis is a genetic disease. The relatives of a person suffering from ulcerative disease have a higher risk to suffer the disease also. The chromosomes are link to ulcerative disease which is then found in order of their discovery. Environmental factor may play an important role also. Several disorders such as neurovisceral and cutaneous porphyries are associated to ulcerative disease.

 

a. Environmental cause. Many theory had been increase in environmental contributions to ulcerative colitis.

b. Diet. Our colon is exposed to many dietary substances that promotes colon inflammation. A diet low in fermentable dietary fiber may have an effect on ulcerative colitis occurrence.

c. Accutane is also believe to trigger ulcerative colitis in some patient.

d. Autoimmune disease. Ulcerative colitis is an auto immune disease in which the immune system attacks our body particularly the colon instead of protecting it. This abnormal function of immune disease affects the gastrointestinal tract and the colon. Surgical removal of the colon often but not always cures the disease.

e. Bacteria is very high in person who suffers ulcerative colitis. This is due to the higher level of hydrogen sulfide in the intestine. The hydrogen sulfide present in the intestine is a toxic to the cell of the intestine.

 

The clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis depends on the degree of the disease. Ulcerative colitis is usually constant from the rectum up the colon. The disease is classified by the degree of participation, depending on how far up the colon the disease extends.

 

Types of ulcerative colitis are follows:

1. Distal Colitis. Distal colitis is possibly curable by the use of enema.

2. Extensive colitis. Extensive colitis is an inflammation that extends beyond the reach of enema.

 

Severity of the disease

 

Patient suffering from ulcerative colitis maybe measured by the severity of the disease.

-Mild disease. Mild disease transmits lesser stools. Stools may be characterized with or without blood streak. The patient suffering from ulcerative colitis may experience abdominal pain and constipation. -Moderate disease. Moderate disease transmits more than four bowel movement daily but with lesser signs of toxins. Patient may develop mild anemia and reasonable abdominal pain. Fever is also present.

-Severe disease. Severe disease transmits more than six bowel movement daily. The stool shows blood streak which is an evident of toxicity, fever, anemia and tachycardia.

-Fulminated disease. A fulminated disease transmits of at least ten bowel movement daily. The fecal elimination is characterized by continuous bleeding, toxins and abdominal tenderness. When the patient reach this stage, blood transfusion is required. And unless treated the patient will soon die of the disease.

 

The initial diagnostic that develop for ulcerative colitis includes the following:

a. Complete blood count. Complete blood count is done to check if the patient is suffering from anemia. b. Electrolyte and renal function test. Electrolyte and renal function test are done whenever diarrhea is present.

c. Liver function test. Liver function test are done to screen if the bile duct is inflamed. Xray and urinalysis are done in all levels of the disease. -Fecalysis. Fecalysis is done to check for any presence of abdominal parasites.

d. Biopsy. Biopsy of the mucus lining is taken at the time of endoscopy. This procedure is done to detect any cryptitis or abscess from the mucosa.

 

Although ulcerative colitis is a disease of unknown cause, public information about the disease should be implemented as an external prevention and awareness of the disease.