Do you know about ulcerative colitis ? Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine, also known as the colon, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores, or ulcers that produce pus and mucous. The combination of inflammation and ulceration can cause abdominal discomfort and frequent emptying of the colon.
Signs and symptoms may include the following: diarrhoea, often with blood or pus; abdominal pain and cramping; rectal pain; rectal bleeding – passing a small amount of blood with stool; urgency to defecate; inability to defecate despite urgency; weight loss; fatigue; fever; and in children, failure to grow.
Most people with ulcerative colitis have mild to moderate symptoms. The course of ulcerative colitis may vary, with some people having long periods of remission.
See your doctor if you experience a persistent change in your bowel habits or if you have signs and symptoms such as:
• Abdominal pain
• Blood in your stool
• Ongoing diarrhoea that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medications
• Diarrhoea that awakens you from sleep
• An unexplained fever lasting more than a day or two
Although ulcerative colitis usually isn’t fatal, it’s a serious disease that, in some cases, may cause life-threatening complications.
Source :- Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service
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