Ulcerative colitis: Get informed

Ulcerative colitis is an illness that affects the rectum and the colon. Its cause is unknown, and can affect men and women of any age, though the illness is more common in young adults.

There are four types of ulcerative colitis that differ in terms of scope:
- Pancolitis if the entire bowel is affected.
- Distal colitis, which only affects the rectum and the descending colon
- Proctosigmoiditis, which affects the sigmoid colon and the rectum
- Ulcerous proctitis, which only affects the rectum.

A complication of this illness is toxic megacolon, which can appear during an acute flare-up. This is characterized by the distension of the colon, dehydration, a fall in blood pressure and accelerated heart rate.

How can I manage my symptoms when I’m at work? What foods should I choose? Which medical treatments are most effective for ulcerative colitis? These are some of the questions that you most likely have.

Patients, relatives but also associations can help you to find answers to these questions.

For further information:
https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-inflammatory-bowel-disease/ulcerative-colitis

Last updated: 4/4/17