Ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis): medications, symptoms, etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis)?

Ulcerative colitis (UC) or ulcerative colitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the walls of the intestinal tract.

This disease is one of the more specific types of inflammatory bowel disease (colitis) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Ulcerative colitis itself has several types, which include:

1. Ulcerative proctitis: inflammation occurs in the rectum, and will likely cause rectal bleeding. Ulcerative proctitis is the most common type, is mild, and has little risk of complications.
2. Proctosigmoiditis: inflammation occurs in the rectum and sigmoid colon (lower end of the colon). You will generally find it difficult to pass stools, even though you have the urge to do so (aching stomach). This condition is called tenesmus.
3. Left sided colitis: inflammation occurs on the left side of the large intestine (rectum, sigmoid colon, and descending colon). This inflammation is also known as limited or distal colitis.
4. Pancolitis: inflammation occurs throughout the intestine.

Irritation and inflammation in the intestinal wall can interfere with the digestion process and absorption of nutrients eaten throughout the body. Inflammation can sometimes cause bleeding to drain pus and mucus.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that can cause your colon to swell and can lead to small perforations. Perforation is the perforation of tissue in the intestine that allows feces to leak into your stomach. These complications can lead to life-threatening peritonitis.

How common is this condition?

Men and women are both likely to experience this digestive disease. People 15-35 years of age are most commonly affected.

Ulcerative colitis is usually a hereditary disease. Most people have UC all their life.

Signs & symptoms

What are the characteristics and symptoms of ulcerative colitis ?

Ulcerative colitis is a recurring disease. On relapse, the symptoms of ulcerative colitis can vary from mild to severe and frequent.

Recurrence of symptoms that are severe and last for several days or weeks is called flare-ups. After time flare-ups, the body's condition usually goes into a stage of remission, where inflammation of the large intestine begins to slowly subside.

Symptoms ulcerative colitis or ulcerative colitis are:

• stomach pain and diarrhea
• the stool that comes out is slimy and bloody
• fatigue
• weight loss
• anorexia
• fever

Other symptoms can also be affected by inflammation in the colon, including joint pain in the knees, ankles, and wrists. Ulcerative colitis symptoms can also affect the eyes.

If you have had ulcerative colitis for a long time, you may experience symptoms in other areas of your body such as rashes, mouth sores, and joint pain.

When a person with ulcerative colitis has a bowel movement, it is possible that the pain in the left side of the stomach will subside a little. In addition, there are also some characteristics and symptoms that are not mentioned above. If you have the same complaint, please consult your doctor.

When should I call the doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you notice the following symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Increased frequency of bowel movements, or bleeding
• Bloating, abdominal pain, or starting to vomit.

Cause

What causes ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis)?

The exact cause of this disease is still uncertain. Previously, most doctors suspected that a strict diet and stress were two conditions that could worsen ulcerative colitis.

Another cause that is thought to cause ulcerative colitis is immune dysfunction. When the immune system is supposed to fight viruses and bacteria, the immune system that is not normal actually attacks the cells of the digestive system itself.

Genetic factors play an important role in increasing the risk of ulcerative colitis. Even so, many patients do not have a family history of ulcerative colitis.

Risk factors

What increases your risk of having ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis)?

Some of the risk factors that can affect your chances of developing ulcerative colitis are:

• Age. This condition can occur at any age, but usually appears before the age of 30. There are also some people who develop this disease at the age of 60.
• Race. This condition can occur in any racial group. However, white people (Caucasian race) have a higher risk of digestive infections than Asians.
• Family history. You are at a higher risk of developing ulcerative colitis if a family member, such as a parent, sibling, or child, also has the disease.
• Using isotretinoin. The drug isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret; formerly called accutane) which is used to treat acne and acne scars can increase risk factors for ulcerative colitis. However, the clarity of the relationship between the condition and isotretinoin has not been determined.

Complications

What are the complications of ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis)?

Ulcerative colitis is a disease condition that can cause complications both inside the digestive system and outside the digestive system.

Bowel complications can include:

• Intestinal perforation. This is a condition of the opening in the colon which is a medical emergency. This condition can cause heavy bleeding and abdominal pain.
• Anal fissure. The complication of ulcerative colitis is a tear that occurs in the lining of the anal canal. If you experience this condition it can cause bleeding and pain which can be treated at home.
• Toxic Megacolon. This is an unusual condition. This condition can cause severe intestinal enlargement. This complication is serious, requiring emergency care.
• Colon cancer. After suffering from colitis for about 8 to 10 years, your risk of developing colon cancer increases. It's important to work with a gastroenterologist to schedule regular screenings for colon cancer

Extra intestinal complications can include:

• Eye disease. Several eye health conditions, including uveitis, glaucoma, keratopathy, episcleritis, and dry eye, are associated with the condition and treatment of ulcerative colitis.
• Arthritis. Ulcerative colitis is a condition that can lead to complications of this form of arthritis. These include peripheral arthritis, axial arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Skin problems. Ulcerative colitis can lead to the conditions erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum.
• Mouth ulcers. This condition is also called aphthous stomatitis. These are sores on the lining of the mouth that can co-occur with ulcerative colitis.
• Other symptoms during menstruation. Some women with ulcerative colitis find that the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) leading up to menstruation cause them to experience diarrhea and pain.

Diagnosis

What are the types of tests to diagnose ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis?

Before diagnosing and treating your symptoms, your doctor will examine your physical condition, then ask about your family medical history. The general doctor will also take blood and urine samples to check for bleeding and infection.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition whose results can be diagnosed with the following tests:

1. Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a doctor's way of looking at the overall condition in your colon. In ulcerative colitis, the large intestine will have certain characteristics that lead to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

There may be inflammation that starts in the rectum or in the last part of the large intestine (sigmoid colon), as well as inflammation that spreads over the upper part of the intestine. Inflammation can also occur in the colon wall, the sign will look red and swollen. When examined, the doctor may also cause ulcers (sores) in the lining of the intestine.

During the test, the doctor will perform a biopsy, which takes a small amount of tissue in the large intestine. Later the tissue will be sent to the laboratory for testing. The results of this colonoscopy can help the doctor in making a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis.

2. Imaging tests

Other imaging tests such as X-ray, barium enema, upper gastrointestinal series, sigmoidoscopy, or upper endoscopy can also be used to diagnose ulcerative colitis. This test will generally produce a picture of the condition of your intestines.

3. Blood test

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that can be diagnosed by having a blood test.

Later, the red blood cell count and white blood cell count will be calculated. This is useful for getting a more complete picture of the body. Blood tests can also tell if your ulcerative colitis is causing other conditions like anemia, for example.

Other blood tests can be used to monitor the progress of the disease, especially as long as inflammation in your intestines is moderate flare-ups.

4. Stool test

Stool tests are generally used as part of a complete examination of ulcerative colitis. This test is not a test to determine the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. However, it is more used to determine possible causes of severe stomach pain or bloody diarrhea.

People with inflammatory bowel conditions in general can also have bacterial infections, and tend to be more susceptible to infection. So that a stool culture test can be used to confirm or confirm that the symptoms you are experiencing could be due to a bacterial infection.

Drugs & Medicines

The information below is not a substitute for medical advice from a doctor; ALWAYS consult a professional doctor.

What medications are available for ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis)?

The goals of treatment for ulcerative colitis are to reduce symptoms, control inflammation, and prevent complications.

The following are some of the drugs that doctors may prescribe according to each condition and diagnosis:

1. Inflammatory medicine

Anti-inflammatory drugs are drugs that are often used as a first-step ulcerative colitis treatment:

5-aminosalicylates

This medication will be given depending on where your colon is affected. You can take it orally, or it will be prescribed by your doctor as an enema and suppository.

Some examples of these ulcerative colitis medications include Azulfidine (sulfasalazine), Asacol HD and Delzicol (mesalamine), Colazal (balsalazide), and Dipentum (olsalazine).

Corticosteroids

Prednisone and hydrocortisone drugs will generally be prescribed for those of you who have moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, and your condition does not respond to other treatments.

The body's failure to respond to medications can be caused by side effects, such as weight gain, high blood pressure, mood swings, fluid retention, and osteoporosis.

2. Immune system suppressant drugs (Immune system suppressor)

Ulcerative colitis is a condition for which drugs that suppress the immune system can be administered. These drugs control inflammation by suppressing the immune system's response.

These medications are often given in combination, such as:

• Azathioprine. It is an immunosuppressant drug that is most widely used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. These drugs suppress the immune system by interfering with the body's production of DNA molecules. If you are taking this drug, you should continue to consult your doctor. Your doctor will also check your blood regularly, as side effects can affect your liver and pancreas.
• Cyclosporine: This is an ulcerative colitis medication that is generally prescribed for people whose bodies have not responded well to other medicines. Cyclosporine is believed to work by suppressing lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Because cyclosporine has the potential for serious side effects, it is not prescribed for long-term use.
• Infliximab, Adalimumab, and Golimumab: These medications are known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. These drugs control the body's abnormal immune response. This medicine is usually used in people who have not responded to or cannot tolerate other treatments.
• Vedolizumab: Ulcerative colitis can be treated using this medicine. Vedolizumab is a drug that will be given if it does not respond to or cannot tolerate other treatments. The drug works by blocking inflammatory cells from getting to the site of inflammation.

3. Antibiotics

Antibiotic drugs can be prescribed if an infection of the colon is suspected, but people with ulcerative colitis sometimes will not be prescribed antibiotics if there are no symptoms of a bacterial infection. This is because antibiotics can cause diarrhea.

Home remedies

What forms of lifestyle changes at home can help treat ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis)?

The following are forms of a healthy lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with ulcerative colitis:

• Take medicines as instructed by the doctor;
• Ask your doctor if you can take vitamins, mineral supplements, and iron tablets;
• Try to do normal physical activity;
• See a doctor regularly. Colonoscopy examinations are very important to periodically monitor how your disease is progressing and prevent it from progressing to colon cancer.

If you have any questions, please consult a professional doctor immediately to find the best medical solution.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.