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Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
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Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory
bowel disease, which presents itself in one in 1000 people in the Western
world. Symptoms include diarrhoea, which may contain pus, blood or mucus,
with or without stomach pains. There may be weight loss, weakness, fever
and general malaise. The condition results from the ulceration and bleeding
of the large intestine and manifests itself as acute attacks interspersed
with spells of remission. In severe episodes up to twenty stools can
be passed per day and frequent diarrhoea and bleeding can result in
electrolyte imbalances and anaemia, respectively.
Other complications include, malnutrition, perforation of the bowel
(in rare cases), inflammation of the skin, joints and eyes and after
ten years an increased risk of bowel cancer.
In its active form ulcerative colitis may be treated with drugs such
as sulphasalazine and corticosteroids. Iron supplements may be required
if anaemia occurs. In more severe attacks, electrolyte imbalance may
need to be restored and in some instances blood transfusions may be
indicated. When medication fails, surgical intervention may be required
to remove part or all of the large bowel. A protocolectomy with a permanent
ileostomy is the standard type of surgery for patients with this disease.
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