Ulcerative colitis is a severe disease that affects the large intestine.

Coincidently, the large intestine plays a major role in the absorption of food and water. Hence in this condition, the large intestine’s lining becomes inflamed. Consequently, small open sores start to develop and these are referred to as ulcers.

It usually occurs due to the body’s overreactive immune response. But the real question on everyone’s mind is whether or not a treatment is available.

What are the most common causes of ulcerative colitis?

This is a condition that involves the large intestine. On most occasions, it occurs due to your own body’s mistake. But what is that mistake?

We all have been blessed with good immune systems. On rare occasions, your body can make a mistake and attack its own tissue. As a result, your body’s white blood cells start attacking the lining of the large intestine. Consequently, this action leaves large holes, in the form of ulcers.

Believe it or not, doctors aren’t too sure why it occurs in the first place either. Coincidently, there is research-based evidence that explains the role of genetics in the disease.

Source: Scientific Animations

Common risk factors involved

Can you prevent it? While the answer isn’t a big yes, some risk factors are involved. At the same time, when people with the disease avoid risk factors, they’re actually reducing the chances of flare-ups.  Hence, they include the following:

• Ethnicity- people arising from Ashkenazi Jewish descents pose a higher risk
• Age- most common age groups involved are 15 to 30 years as well as those above 65 years
• Family history- people with strong family histories for the disease are at greater risk

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Common symptoms associated with the condition

One of the most common symptoms is blood in the stool.point 196 | 1

With that being said, there are a number of other symptoms worth a glance. They include:

• belly cramps
• frequent tendency to pass stool
• loss of appetite
• weight loss

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• dehydration
• fever
• mouth ulcers
• skin sores
• joint pain
• difficulty in looking at a bright light
• anemia
• painful bowel movements

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How does the condition differ from other GIT diseases?

While ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disorder that involves the largest intestine, it’s not the only one.point 254 |

Many people ask what is the difference between this disease and two other commonly occurring ones, called irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease? So let’s take a quick look:point 159 | 1

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• Firstly, this disease is limited to your large intestine and its lining.point 344 |

• On the other hand, Crohn’s disease causes irritation in the large intestine as well as other areas of the digestive system.point 105 |
• Coincidently, irritable bowel syndrome has symptoms similar to ulcerative colitis.point 178 | In short, it doesn’t cause ulcers or inflammation.point 223 |

  Hence, you can think of it as a disease that affects the muscles present inside the intestines.point 79 |

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Is there any treatment for the disorder?

While medical science is still on the search for proper treatment, many physicians treat the condition via two main objectives.point 340 | 1

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1. Diet- A number of foods can make your symptoms worsen.point 167 | Patients need to eat a balanced diet and avoid spicy foods.point 216 |

2. Medicine- Doctors usually prescribe a mixture of drugs to help treat it.point 63 | This includes antibiotics, drugs that reduce inflammation, drugs that reduce immune actions on the colon, and those used to treat diarrhea.point 182 |

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Surgery- on rare occasions, the condition gets complicated.point 54 | Consequently, patients may need surgery, if other forms of treatment don’t work.point 125 | The surgery usually involves the removal of the colon or both the colon and the rectum.point 197 | 1

This is a medical disorder that requires attention. If not treated on time, the symptoms can flare-up.  Additionally, it may lead to complications.