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Colitis: Inflammations
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Colitis is a general term for a large number of causes that result in inflammation in the lining of the bowel. Common symptoms associated with colitis are abdominal cramping, frequent loose stools or persistent diarrhea, loss of control of bowel function, fever, sleepiness, and weight loss. Depending on the cause, colitis may be treated in several ways.
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There are many theories about what may cause colitis. Contrary to popular belief, colitis is not a direct consequence of mental stress or an allergy to certain foods – though these factors may trigger or worsen the symptoms of colitis in certain people. It is found that people suffering from colitis present some abnormalities in their immune system, which supposedly starts reacting abnormally to some virus or bacteria present in the digestive tract, causing inflammation in the intestinal wall. But this may possibly be a consequence rather than the cause of colitis.
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UC is a specific form of colitis in which the body’s immune system becomes overactive and does not respond to normal signals to turn off inflammatory responses. The continued cascade of immune factors released in the body primarily targets the colon resulting in inflammation of that particular organ. It is for this reason you may hear people describe UC as an autoimmune disorder, or as the immune system attacking the colon. The cornerstone of UC treatment is medication which suppresses the overactive immune system, dampening it to a normal level of regulation.
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Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine (colon). The colon is the part of the digestive system where waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. In patients with ulcerative colitis, ulcers and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.
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In ulcerative colitis, the inflammation usually starts at the rectum and ends at some point in the colon. The affected area is "continuous," that is, there is no area of normal tissue between the affected areas. The amount of colon involved determines the classification of the type of ulcerative colitis:
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Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes ongoing inflammation and small sores (ulcers) in the inner lining of the large intestine. This inflammation makes the large intestine, or colon, empty frequently, which leads to the most common symptoms of colitis: diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps and pain. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis, as well as possible complications, will vary depending on the extent of inflammation in the rectum and the colon. Colitis symptoms can come on gradually or suddenly and vary in severity.
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