Ulcerative Colitis

Characterized by diarrhea and abdominal pain, ulcerative colitis causes chronic inflammation of the digestive track. A form of inflammatory bowel disease, it may not only be debilitating, but potentially lead to life-threatening complications.

Ulcerative colitis occurs only in continuous stretches of the colon, which differs from Crohn’s disease, which can appear in patches. The cause of the disease is unknown, though some researchers believe it is due to a virus or bacteria that triggers the condition. Heredity may also come into play, since people with a sibling or parent with the disease are shown to be more likely to develop ulcerative colitis.

In diagnosing the problem, doctors at Celebration Colorectal will rule out other possibilities, including ischemic colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, Crohn’s and colon cancer. To accomplish this, your doctor may order blood tests, take a stool sample, perform a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, request a Barium enema or recommend that you undergo X-rays or a CT scan.

If you are interested in learning more about ulcerative colitis treatment options, please make an appointment with a Celebration Colorectal doctor today.