Crohns Disease Causes » Susceptible Person http://crohnsdiseasecauses.com Help, Cures and Support for Crohns Disease Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:07:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Colitis Ulcerosa http://crohnsdiseasecauses.com/colitis-ulcerosa/ http://crohnsdiseasecauses.com/colitis-ulcerosa/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:35:33 +0000 Dr Joe Stevenson http://crohnsdiseasecauses.com/?p=34 Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon.

The main symptom of active disease is usually diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset. Ulcerative colitis is, however, a systemic disease that affects many parts of the body outside the intestine. Because of the name, IBD is often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”), a troublesome, but much less serious condition. Ulcerative colitis has similarities to Crohns disease, another form of IBD.

Ulcerative colitis is an intermittent disease, with periods of exacerbated symptoms, and periods that are relatively symptom-free. Although the symptoms of ulcerative colitis can sometimes diminish on their own, the disease usually requires treatment to go into remission.Ulcerative colitis is a rare disease, with an incidence of about one person per 10,000 in North America.

The disease tends to be more common in northern areas. Although ulcerative colitis has no known cause, there is a presumed genetic component to susceptibility. The disease may be triggered in a susceptible person by environmental factors. Although dietary modification may reduce the discomfort of a person with the disease, ulcerative colitis is not thought to be caused by dietary factors. Although ulcerative colitis is treated as though it were an autoimmune disease, there is no consensus that it is such.

Treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppression (suppressing the immune system), and biological therapy targeting specific components of the immune response. Colectomy (partial or total removal of the large bowel through surgery) is occasionally necessary, and is considered to be a cure for the disease. Ulcerative colitis is a relatively uncommon, chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease of the colon or rectal mucosa. Often a lifelong illness, the condition has profound emotional and social impact on the affected individual. Ulcerative colitis is defined as continuous idiopathic inflammation of the colonic or rectal mucosa.

The rectum is involved in more than 95% of cases. Some authorities believe that the rectum is always involved in an untreated patient. Partial healing may occur in a patient treated with topical therapy, creating diagnostic confusion. Ulcerative colitis occurs more frequently in white people. The incidence of ulcerative colitis is reported to be 2-4 times higher in Jewish people. However, recent population studies in North America do not completely support this assertion. Ulcerative colitis seems to have a female preponderance. Ulcerative colitis affects 30% more females than males. The incidence of ulcerative colitis peaks in people aged 15-25 years and in people aged 55-65 years, although it can occur in people of any age.

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