Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis is a disease that generally affects the innermost layer of the colon and rectum with inflammation in the digestive track. It is a disease that tends to develop overtime, as opposed to coming on suddenly. Depending on how bad the inflammation gets, Ulcerative Colitis can result in diarrhea containing blood or pus, abdominal and rectal pain, as well as rectal bleeding. It is also common to experience the sudden urge to defecate, but unable to do so. Weight loss, fatigue, and fever are also common. Ulcerative Colitis has also been attributed to stunted growth in children.
Ulcerative Colitis has four main classifications: Ulcerative Proctitis, Proctosigmoiditis, Left-Sided Colitis, and Pancolitis. These classifications are based upon the location of the disease. In Ulcerative Proctitis, the disease in contained to the rectum. At this time rectal bleeding may be the only symptom. Proctosigmoiditis is located in the lower part of the colon, which includes the rectum and sigmoid colon. Tenesmus, the inability to have a bowel movement despite the need to, abdominal cramps and pain, and bloody diarrhea tend to be the symptoms. Left-Sided Colitis is an inflammation throughout the rectum and sigmoid into the descending colon. The symptoms are very similar to Proctosigmoiditis, but the abdominal pain stays to the left. Lastly, Pancolitis runs through the entire colon resulting in weight loss, fatigue, violent, bloody diarrhea, and cramps.