Colitis disease
Colitis Disease and Crohns: The Colitis means inflammation of the large bowel. It is common in some countries growing pigs and is characterized by diarrhea. The Crohn's disease and the ulcerative colitis are similar. They are so similar that they are often mistaken for one another. They inflame the lining of the digestive tract, and cause severe bouts of watery or bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain. The Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, often spreading deep into the layers of affected tissues. But the Ulcerative colitis usually affects only the innermost lining of the large intestine and the rectum. Both can be painful and debilitating and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications. They are chronic conditions which can last years to decades. They normally begin during adolescence or early adulthood, and rarely begin during childhood. They are found worldwide, but most commonly in the United States, England, and northern Europe. It is estimated that around 500,000 Americans have Crohn's disease. The Ulcerative colitis is rarely seen in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America, and is rare in the black population. Developing nations are more prone to these diseases. Even though there is no known medical cure available for the Crohn's disease, there are some therapies which will greatly reduce the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Ulcerative Colitis Disease: The Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine or the colon. The patients suffering from ulcerative colitis will have ulcers and inflammation in the inner lining of the colon leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. It is defined as mild, moderate or severe, based on the frequency of diarrhea and the presence of blood. When the disease affects only the rectum - the final portion of the bowel, it is known as the proctitis. When it affects more of the colon than of the rectum alone, the disease is more severe.
Symptoms of Colitis Disease: Even though the main symptom of ulcerative colitis is frequent, watery diarrhea, it is also accompanied by cramping abdominal pain and the passage of blood and/or mucus. The symptoms vary according to the degree of inflammation in the bowel and whether or not the lining of the bowel has become ulcerated. A number of other problems may be associated with ulcerative colitis. These are more likely when the disease is active and include skin rashes, mouth ulcers, joint pains and anemia.
- Diarrhea during days and sometimes even during nights
- Severe pain on opening the bowels
- Urgent and frequent need to open the bowels
- Painful tears or fissures around the anus.
- Pain in abdomen
- The sensation of incomplete emptying of the bowels
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Extreme tiredness
- Sometimes fever
- Rectal bleeding
It is not known for sure what causes IBD / UC, although there is some general consensus about it. Also, it is no longer believed that stress causes this disease even though it may aggravate the symptoms. IBD is known to be caused due to some unknown virus or bacterium. When the body’s immune system tries to fight off the invading microorganism, the digestive tract becomes inflamed. The inflammation may even stem from the virus or bacterium itself. Even hereditary factors seem to cause this disease. According to a research, 15 to 20% of people suffering from ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease are found to have a parent, sibling or child who also has the disease. The research is being carried out to find the gene transferring the IBD. As it is found more commonly among people living in cities and industrial nations, even the environmental factors may lead to this disease.
Sites for Colitis Disease:
http://www.nacc.org.uk/content/home.asp
http://qurlyjoe.bu.edu/cduchome.html
http://www.colitisfoundation.com/index222.html