Ulcerative Colitis

• Weak or malfunctioning immunity when the function of immunity system becomes abnormal, it will fight against body’s own tissues (autoimmunity) in addition to external bacteria and viruses. This will eventually destroy the colonic mucosal lining resulting in chronic inflammation.

• Heredity- Ulcerative colitis is common in families who have several members affected by

• Gender and age- Ulcerative colitis equally affects women and men who are younger than 30 years of age. But it can arise at any age where there are records of patients who firstly developed symptoms after the age of 60.

• Ethnicity- Latest research studies suggest that, Ashkenazi Jewish descent individuals are known to be at a high risk for developing ulcerative colitis.

• Chronic stress

• Poor dietary nutrients

• Use of Isotretinoin- Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a drug which is used to treat acne and chronic cystic acne scars. It is known to aggravate this inflammatory condition in patients who have already developed the initial symptoms.

Depend on the affected site and severity of inflammation.

• Passage of loose stools with pus or blood (bloody diarrhea)

• Cramping abdominal pain sometimes associated with a pain in the rectal area and rectal bleeding

• Urge incontinence (severe need to pass stools)

• Inability of open bowels even if there is a severe need

• Loss of weight

• Loss of appetite

• Mild fever.

Mild to moderate symptoms can sometimes be associated with long periods of remission.

• Less pain

• Shorter hospitalization

• Lower rates of blood transfusion

• Quicker return to activity and work

• Increased likelihood of preserving the spleen

• Lower rates of wound infections and other complications

• Lower rates of subsequent hernia development

• Minimal scaring

• You present with altered bowel habits

• You need to wake up at night due to the urge of passing stools which are usually loose in consistency

• You have an ongoing fever lasting for more than 3 days.