Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis: Putting It All Together

Name: Ulcerative Colitis: Putting It All Together - YMS - Your Medical Source
Published: 2023-09-18T13:05:11+00:00

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects part or all of the large intestine (colon). Ulcerative colitis is characterized by periods of active inflammation, called flare-ups, and periods of reduced or no symptoms, called remission.
Ulcerative colitis has a genetic component, with a higher probability of incidence in families in which another member has ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory condition that can appear anywhere in the digestive tract.
Together, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are known as inflammatory bowel disease.
For individuals with refractory disease (disease that is not responsive to medical treatment or management) removal of the entire colon (total colectomy) will cure the condition.
Ulcerative colitis has been shown to correlate with a higher incidence of colon cancer. The amount of colon involved in the colitis is not related to the increased incidence of cancer; the length of time since colitis was diagnosed does relate.