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Colitis: Doctors
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The fact is, colitis can get out of control. That's why you need to see your doctor during an acute flare-up, says Joel Mason, M.D., a nutritionist and gastroenterologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. "Self-medicating is not a good idea. The antidiarrheal medications Imodium and Lomotil can be very harmful if used inappropriately," he says.
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Ulcerative colitis affects the rectum and variable amounts of the rest of the colon (the large bowel or intestine). The other main inflammatory bowel disease, Crohns disease, can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. In around 10% of cases, it is not possible for doctors to distinguish between ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. For more information, please see the separate BUPA fact sheet titled Crohns disease.
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Many theories exist about what causes ulcerative colitis. People with ulcerative colitis have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of the disease. The body's immune system is believed to react abnormally to the bacteria in the digestive tract.
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If you have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, follow the treatment plan your doctor has recommended. Avoid any foods or beverages that cause indigestion. If you have diarrhea, drink only clear liquids. Get plenty of rest and continue to have regular checkups.
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Ulcerative colitis is diagnosed through a procedure called colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is a procedure where a thin, flexible tube with an attached camera is inserted into the colon. The camera will help the doctor examine the colon.
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A stool sample can ... reveal white blood cells, whose presence indicates ulcerative colitis or inflammatory disease. In addition, a stool sample allows the doctor to detect bleeding or infection in the colon or rectum caused by bacteria, a virus, or parasites.
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