Jan 29, 2014 Returning to smoking not a safe way to reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Colitis, people wear a nicotine patch. Autosys Tutorial Pdf. Treatment for ulcerative.

What is ulcerative colitis? Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause in which the gastrointestinal tract is unable to distinguish foreign from self-antigens. It is characterized by chronic inflammation of the colonic mucosa and submucosa, atrophy and possibly dysplasia limited to the colon. The extent of disease varies and may involve only the rectum (ulcerative proctitis), the left side of the colon to the splenic flexure or the entire colon (pancolitis). What causes ulcerative colitis? Hereditary factors seem to play a role in the etiology of ulcerative colitis.

The most significant risk factor for the development of ulcerative colitis is a family history. Environmental factors are also involved, as evidenced by higher rates of this disease in urban locales. What are the symptoms of ulcerative colitis? The most common symptom of ulcerative colitis is diarrhea that is often bloody.

Other symptoms include abdominal and/or rectal pain, fever and weight loss. Some patients complain of constipation and rectal spasm. Arthritis symptoms may occur in as many as 26 percent of patients with ulcerative colitis, dermatological changes in fewer patients and ocular manifestations in about 5 percent. How is ulcerative colitis diagnosed?

The disease is diagnosed using clinical presentation, CT scans, endoscopy, and usually confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. Because the initial presentation of the disease is indistinguishable from other forms of acute colitis, diagnosis of ulcerative colitis should not be made until all infectious causes are ruled out and symptoms have persisted for at least two weeks. Barium enema is not necessary if all other forms of colitis are excluded and if it is believed that the disease is more than proctosigmoiditis. Who is affected by ulcerative colitis? Both sexes are equally affected, and there is a higher prevalence of the disease in Ashkenazi Jews.