brand-logo

Ulcerative colitis - Inflammatory bowel disease

Low urgency
--

It is a disease in which ulcers form due to destruction of the lining of the large intestine, mainly in the lower part of the colon and rectum. It is more common between the ages of 15 and 40.

The causes are unknown, but it is thought to have a hereditary component.

It presents with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. It is sometimes accompanied by weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, dehydration and/or rectal bleeding.

Diagnosis is made by taking a detailed clinical history, focusing on bowel habits and other possible causes of symptoms. The definitive diagnosis is made by colonoscopy.

Treatment includes several types of drugs that can be taken alone or in combination: aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, anti-inflammatories and immunosuppressants.

This is not a medical emergency, but you should see your doctor to get a clear diagnosis and start treatment.

Bibliographic references
  1. Mark A Peppercorn, Sunanda V Kane. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and prognosis of ulcerative colitis in adults. UpToDate Sep 07, 2016
  2. Satsangi J, Silverberg MS, Vermeire S, Colombel JF. The Montreal classification of inflammatory bowel disease: controversies, consensus, and implications. Gut 2006; 55:749.
  3. Samuel S, Bruining DH, Loftus EV Jr, et al. Validation of the ulcerative colitis colonoscopic index of severity and its correlation with disease activity measures. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; 11:49.
  4. Jess T, Frisch M, Simonsen J. Trends in overall and cause-specific mortality among patients with inflammatory bowel disease from 1982 to 2010. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; 11:43.
  5. Bewtra M, Kaiser LM, TenHave T, Lewis JD. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are associated with elevated standardized mortality ratios: a meta-analysis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2013; 19:599.
  6. J Vilaseca, F Casellas, F Guarner. Enfermedad inflamatoria del intestino. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen 1. 12º edición. 169:182.
  7. Sonia Friedman, Richard S Blumberg. Enfermedad intestinal inflamatoria. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19º Edición. 1947:1965.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Stools with fresh blood

    Black stools

    Diarrhoea with blood

    Pus in stools

    Lower left abdominal pain

Symptoms to watch out for

Fever (temperature higher than 38 ºC)
Intense abdominal pain that unables doing day-to-day life activities
Blood in stools

Self-care

It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet, consume hydrosoluble fibers (fruits and vegetables), avoid food that produced gas (beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli), carbonated beverages with preservatives, synthetic sweeteners, and refined sugar.
Maintain hydration of 2 litres per day.
Engage in regular physical activity, adapted to age and physical condition, at least 3 times a week.
Reduce situations that produce psychological stress.
If there is diarrhoea, check with your general practitioner about the prescription for antidiarrhoeals.
Consume over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
Reduce tobacco consumption.
Check with your general practitioner about the prescription for corticosteroids, immune system inhibitors and/or biological medications.
Mediktor logo