Ulcerative Colitis: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

Classified as aninflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis is a disease that primarily affects the digestive tract, but usually also has an impact on other parts of the body. It can cause symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and an urgent need to empty the bowels. Symptomscan cycle through periods of remission and active disease.

Symptoms may differ from person to person, which can make diagnosis and treatment challenging, but there are a few that hint at having the condition.

The signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis may vary slightly depending on the stage and the location of the disease, but the most common can include:

Ulcerative colitis can be a progressive disease. The ulcerations begin in the last part of the large intestine, which is called the sigmoid colon, and may spread up through the rest of the colon. Signs and symptoms can be different based on how much of the intestine is being affected by the inflammation.

The different forms of ulcerative colitis and their most common symptoms include:

Ulcerative colitis is associated with complications both within the digestive system and outside the digestive system(which are called extra-intestinal symptoms).

Intestinal complications can include:

Extra-intestinal complications can include:

After doing well and having few or no symptoms, when symptoms (sleep problems, diarrhea, bloody stools, fevers, weight loss)begin again, it is a reason to call the doctor and get evaluated for a potential flare-up. It may be necessary to change treatments or adjust the current care plan in order to get any inflammation under control quickly.

In general, symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, excessive bleeding, and signs of dehydration (leg cramps, decreased urine, light-headedness) are a reason to seek medical care right away. When possible, calling the gastroenterologist before going to the hospital might help in deciding what level of care is needed.

However, if treatment is needed right away, going to the emergency department may be the best choice. If a serious condition such as a bowel perforation or toxic megacolon is suspected, it may be necessary to call 911, because these aremedical emergencies.

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Ulcerative Colitis: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications