Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long term condition that results in inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum .The primary symptom of active disease is abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood. Weight loss, fever, and anemia may also occur. Often symptoms come on slowly and can range from mild to severe.
It usually begins in the rectum and spreads upward. It rarely affects the small intestine beyond the lower portion.
This disease affects people of all ages. Symptoms tend to develop when people are between the ages of 15 and 30, or between the ages of 50 and 70.
CAUSES
There are no direct known causes for ulcerative colitis, but there are many possible factors such as genetics and stress.
One possible cause is an immune system malfunction. When your immune system tries to fight off an invading virus or bacterium, an abnormal immune response causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract, too.
Genetic factors
A genetic component to the etiology of ulcerative colitis can be hypothesized based on the following
Aggregation of ulcerative colitis in families.
Identical twin concordance rate of 10% and dizygotic twin concordance rate of 3%
Ethnic differences in incidence
Genetic markers and linkages
Environmental factors – They include the following:
Diet – High intake of unsaturated fat and vitamin B6 may enhance the risk of developing ulcerative colitis. Other identified dietary factors that may influence the development and/or relapse of the disease include meat protein and alcoholic beverages. Another study demonstrated association with milk allergy.
Breastfeeding: There have been conflicting reports of the protection of breastfeeding in the development of inflammatory bowel disease.
Autoimmune disease
Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease characterized by T-cells infiltrating the colon. ulcerative colitis usually involves the rectum and is confined to the colon, with occasional involvement of the ileum. This so-called “backwash ileitis” can occur in 10–20% of patients with pancolitis and is believed to be of little clinical significance.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
abdominal pain
increased abdominal sounds
bloody stools
diarrhea
fever
rectal pain
weight loss
malnutrition
Ulcerative colitis may cause additional symptoms such as:
joint pain
joint swelling
nausea
vomiting
skin ulcers
mouth sores
COMPLICATIONS
Severe bleeding
A hole in the colon (perforated colon)
Severe dehydration
Liver disease (rare)
Bone loss (osteoporosis)
Inflammation of your skin, joints and eyes, and sores in the lining of your mouth
An increased risk of colon cancer ( main complication )
A rapidly swelling colon (toxic megacolon)
Increased risk of blood clots in veins and arteries
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
The advantage of homoeopathic treatment is that it tends to modify the body’s natural immunity . it helps to strengthen the natural immunity of the body so that it can perform its natural functions in a more efficient manner .it helps in controlling the acute symptoms of diarrhea containing mucus and blood and tenesmus in ulcerative colitis . intensity and frequency of symptoms can be controlled . helps in halting the progress of inflammation and ulcer formation in rectum and colon.