Definition
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of severe, chronic
inflammatory bowel disease
(IBD)
, which causes:
- Inflammation
- Ulcers
- Bleeding in the lining of the colon and rectum
Treatment
Treatment options may include:
Dietary Changes
Your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods that trigger symptoms, such as:
Talk to your doctor to learn more about the types of foods that you should avoid.
Medications
There are a range of medicines that may be prescribed, such as:
- Aminosalicylate medicines (such as, sulfasalazine,
mesalamine, olsalazine,
balsalazide disodium)
- Steroid anti-inflammatory medicines (such as, prednisone,
methylprednisolone, budesonide)
- Immune modifier medicines (such as, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, cyclosporine)
- Biological agents (such as,
infliximab, adalimumab)
Surgery
Medicine may not cure very severe UC. In some cases, your doctor may suggest
surgery
. This can involve having all or part of the colon removed. Surgery may also be done because UC increases your risk of
colon cancer
.
Over time, colitis that is not treated or that does not respond to treatment can lead to:
If you are diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, follow your doctor's
instructions
.