by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: January 25, 2009   Last Updated: February 10, 2009

By definition ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

Often doctors group symptoms by where the problem may be located in the digestive tract.

-Left-sided colitis- The inflammation in this case goes from the rectum up the left side through the sigmoid and the descending colon. The symptoms are

*bloody diarrhea

*Severe cramping on the left side

*weight loss

-Ulcerative procititis

The inflammation in this area is restricted to the rectum. The symptoms may include

*rectal bleeding

*tenesmus

-Pancoliti-This form of ulcerative colitis affects the entire colon.

*bloody diarrhea

*night sweats

*abdominal cramping

*weight loss

*random pain

-Fulminant colitis

This is a very rare form of colitis. It is life threatening.

*distended colon

*profuse diarrhea

*shock *dehydration

There is no cure for ulcerative colitis. However, there are treatments and often times patients go into states of remission. The basis of treatment is to reduce inflammation that causes the signs and symptoms. This can usually be done with medications. Sometimes surgery is required.

Medications: Physicians usually start with a number of anti-inflammatory drugs and see if these help reduce the symptoms.

*Sulfasalazine Side effects may include headache, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.

*Masalamine This medication can be taken in tablet form, enemas, or suppositories. They tend to have fewer side effects than sulfasalazine. They are 80% effective for those with left-sided colitis.

*Corticosteroids These are very effective drugs for helping to reduce inflammation. They can not be used long term because of serious side effects. These include excessive facial hair, puffy face, night sweats, insomnia, hyperactivity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cataracts, osteoporosis, bone fractures and susceptibility to infections.

There are also a number of immune system suppressors that physician can prescribe. These don't target the inflammation, but instead target the immune system. Since there is some positive results scientist believe the damage to the digestive tissue may be caused by a response to and a virus or bacterium.

Another interesting treatment in the nicotine patch. There is controversy about it's effectiveness, but there are enough patients that report positive results it is something that needs to be considered.

In some cases surgery becomes the only option left for ulcerative colitis. Proctocolectomy is surgery that is used for treatment. The colon is removed and the end of the small intestine is attached to the anus. A reservoir is created from the small intestine to replace the colon. Sometimes this reservoir becomes inflamed. The condition is called pouchitis. It can be treated with medications.

It is not any easy disease to live with, but here many support groups available.

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