Ulcerative Colitis
By: Sascha Liberatore
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
Symptoms are:
Cramping in the abdomen
Blood and pus in the stool
Severe or very slight Diarrhea
Fever
Weight loss
In children, growth may slow
Nausea or loss of appetite
Rectal pain
- Vomiting
Complications from Ulcerative Colitis
- Severe bleeding
- A hole in the colon
- Severe dehydration
- Liver disease (that rarely happens)
- Bone loss
- Inflammation of your skin, joints and eyes, and sores in the lining of your mouth
- An increased risk of colon cancer
- A rapidly swelling colon (toxic megacolon)
- Increased risk of blood clots in veins and arteries
How are Carriers Detected?
Your Doctor could do pre tests if they feel like you may have colitis or traces of it. They can first do laboratory tests of blood and fecal matter. Stool specimens are tested to get rid of the possibility of bacterial, viral, or parasitic causes of diarrhea. The blood tests checks for signs of infection and anemia, which then could tell if there is bleeding in the colon or rectum.
Endoscopy and Biopsy
You may have to get an endoscopy, which is medical instruments to go inside of your colon, inserted through the anus to see the inside of the colon with a lighted camera. You may have to get a sigmoidoscopy or a total colonoscopy.
- "Sigmoidoscopy involves the insertion of a flexible instrument into the rectum and lower colon that allows the doctor to visualize the extent and degree of inflammation in these areas.
- Total colonoscopy is a similar exam, but it visualizes the entire colon."
Your doctor will probably want a sample of the affected tissue, called a biopsy. Biopsied tissues are tested to see for traces of the disease or if you may have the disease.
These procedures seem a little personal and uncomfortable, techniques and new technology has made the procedure painless and can be done in an outpatient visit.
Chromoendosopy
You could also end up have to get a colonoscopy to look for any polyps or pre-cancerous changes in the setting of colitis. "Chromoendoscopy is a technique of spraying a blue liquid dye during the colonoscopy in order to increase the ability of the endoscopist specialist to detect slight changes in the lining of your intestine. The technique may identify early or flat polyps which can be biopsied or removed. It is common to have blue bowel movements for a short time following this procedure."
There is really no way to tell if your carrier without already having a trace of IBD. If you do have Colitis then mostly likely your kids will have IBD either Crohns or Colitis.
Treatment
Medication: Anti-inflammatory
Aminosalicylates: Digestive distress, headache
Corticosteroids: Puffy face, excessive facial hair, night sweats, insomnia, hyperactivity
Medication: Immune system suppressors
Azathioprine and Mercaptopurine: Liver, pancreas, chance of lymphoma cancer and skin cancer
Cyclosporine: Kidney and liver damage, seizures,fatal infections, risk for cancer
Infliximab, Adalimumab, Golimumab: Tuberculosis, chance of lymphoma cancer and skin cancer
- Vedolizumab: Infection, risk for cancer
Antibiotics for fevers
Anti-diarrheal meds for severe diarrhea: risk of toxic megacolon
Pain relievers for mild pain
Iron supplements for iron deficiency anemia
Surgery
Removing part of your colon or all of it: Waste bag, possibly a permanent opening in your abdomen
Cancer surveillance
- Getting screenings for colon cancer
Exact name?
IL23R
Interleukin 23 ReceptorWhere is the gene located?
Mutation
Is there a cure?
Current Research
Intresting facts about ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative Colitis can also be caused by Environmental Factors- Certain medications, diet, where you live, age.
Smoking can be a risk for Ulcerative Colitis .
Citations
"Ulcerative Colitis." : Practice Essentials, Background, Anatomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.
"Crohn's & Colitis." CCFA: Colitis Diagnosis. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"Ulcerative Colitis." Complications. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"New Genetic Markers for Ulcerative Colitis Identified, Researchers Report in Nature Genetics." EurekAlert! N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"Newly Described Disease Entity: NOD2-associated Autoinflammatory Disease - Consult QD." Consult QD. N.p., 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"IRGM Gene." Genetics Home Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"What Is the Association between ATG16L1 and Inflammatory Bowel Disease?" What Is the Association between ATG16L1 and Inflammatory Bowel Disease? N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.