Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine, specifically the colon and rectum. It causes inflammation and sores called ulcers in the lining of the colon, which can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes blood in the stool. This inflammation can make it difficult for the colon to absorb water and nutrients properly. The disease often comes and goes, with periods of flare-ups and remission. It mainly impacts the digestive system but can also affect overall health due to nutrient loss and chronic inflammation.

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous mucosal inflammation limited to the colon and rectum. The pathogenesis involves an abnormal immune response to intestinal microbiota in genetically susceptible individuals, with key contributions from dysregulated T-cell mediated immunity and cytokine production. The inflammation is typically confined to the mucosa and submucosa, leading to crypt abscesses, mucosal ulceration, and loss of haustra. Clinically, it presents with bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and urgency. It is distinguished from Crohn disease by its continuous colonic involvement without skip lesions and absence of transmural inflammation. Complications include toxic megacolon, colorectal cancer risk, and extraintestinal manifestations such as arthritis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.