Ulcerative Colitis

Summary

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease.

UC can happen at any age, but it usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It tends to run in families. The most common symptoms are pain in the abdomen and blood or pus in diarrhea. Other symptoms may include:

• Anemia
• Severe tiredness
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Sores on the skin
• Joint pain
• Growth failure in children

About half of people with UC have mild symptoms.

Doctors use blood tests, stool tests, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, and imaging tests to diagnose UC. Several types of drugs can help control it. Some people have long periods of remission, when they are free of symptoms. In severe cases, doctors must remove the colon.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Find an Expert

• American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• Find a Gastroenterologist American College of Gastroenterology
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Related Issues

• Anal Abscess and Fistula American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Gut Troubles: Pain, Gassiness, Bloating, and More National Institutes of Health
• Influenza and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Overview of Enteropathic Arthritis / Arthritis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Spondylitis Association of America
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Traveling with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

Living With

• Arthritis and Joint Pain in IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Bone Loss in IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: Emotional Factors Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Extraintestinal Complications: Kidney Disorders Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Eye Complications Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• General Healthcare Maintenance of IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• IBD and Fatigue Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Nutrition North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
• Intestinal Complications of IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Liver Complications Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Managing Flares and IBD Symptoms Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Sex Intimacy and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Skin Complications of IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bacteria Culture Test National Library of Medicine
• C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test National Library of Medicine
• Colonoscopy: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Diagnosing and Monitoring IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• White Blood Cell (WBC) in Stool National Library of Medicine

Encyclopedia

• Barium enema Medical Encyclopedia
• Black or tarry stools Medical Encyclopedia
• ESR Medical Encyclopedia
• Inflammatory bowel disease – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Large bowel resection – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Phosphorus blood test Medical Encyclopedia
• Total colectomy or proctocolectomy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Total proctocolectomy and ileal-anal pouch Medical Encyclopedia
• Total proctocolectomy with ileostomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Toxic megacolon Medical Encyclopedia
• Virtual colonoscopy Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Colitis National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Colitis, Ulcerative National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Colonoscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Large bowel resection Medical Encyclopedia
• Low-fiber diet Medical Encyclopedia
• Lower GI Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Ulcerative colitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Ulcerative Colitis – children – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Ulcerative colitis – discharge Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Colostomy – Series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• IBD and Complementary Medicine Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Large bowel resection – Series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Ostomy Surgery of the Bowel National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Probiotics: What You Need to Know National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Options Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Understanding IBD Medications and Side Effects Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

Children

• Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis: A Guide for Parents and Pediatric Caregivers Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (For Children) Nemours Foundation

Statistics and Research

• Current Research Initiatives Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• Inflammation National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Data and Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Women

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Pregnancy and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

Teenagers

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Navigating IBD as a Teen Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

Specifics

• Proctitis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Types of Ulcerative Colitis Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

Journal Articles

• Ulcerative Colitis

Start Here

• Ulcerative Colitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Ulcerative Colitis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Genetics

• Ulcerative colitis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Adults

• Young Adults and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America