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What is Ulcerative Colitis?
• Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine. It usually involves the rectum first. Thereafter it may progress to the entire colon.
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Causes and Risk Factors
• Unknown
• Hereditary
• Below 30 age group
• Autoimmune Hypothesis - Over reaction of immune system to the bacteria in the digestive tract
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Symptoms
• Abdominal pain or cramps
• Diarrhoea
• Bleeding in stool
• Fever
• Weight loss
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Diagnosis
• Colonoscopy (with biopsy )
• Blood test
• Stool examination
• Barium enema
• Ct Scan
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Complications
• Anaemia (low Haemoglobin)
• Toxic megacolon (a potentially lethal condition with nonobstructive colonic dilatation larger than 6cm and signs of systemic toxicity)
• Intestinal cancer
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Treatment
• Medical management
• Surgery (removal of colon) - Removing the colon cures the Ulcerative colitis. It also prevents colon cancer