Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the other type being Crohn's disease.[1] It is a long-term condition that causes inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum.[1]
The main symptoms of the disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood.[1] Weight loss, fever, and anemia can also happen.[1] Symptoms come on slowly and can be either mild to severe.[1] Symptoms usually happen between periods of no symptoms and flares.[1] Problems may include an enlarged colon (megacolon), inflammation of the eye, joints, or liver, and colon cancer.[1][3]
The cause of UC is unknown.[1] Some possible causes include genetics, environment, and an overactive immune system.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Ulcerative Colitis". NIDDK. September 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ↑ "Ulcerative Colitis". Autoimmune Registry Inc. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- 1 2 Wanderås MH, Moum BA, Høivik ML, Hovde Ø (May 2016). "Predictive factors for a severe clinical course in ulcerative colitis: Results from population-based studies". World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 7 (2): 235–241. doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v7.i2.235. PMC 4848246. PMID 27158539.
- ↑ Runge MS, Greganti MA (2008). Netter's Internal Medicine E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 428. ISBN 9781437727722.