Blood in the stool is a common symptom. Many of the people face it from time to time. But if it is a recurring symptom, ulcerative colitis is a disease that must be ruled out. The intestine is divided into two main parts: small and large. The large intestine is the last meter of the intestine that helps not only to form the stool but also to store it until the moment we have a bowel movement during our routine bowel movements.
What is ulcerative colitis?
It is a type of disease where the last part of our intestine is damaged by our own immune cells and it is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or in common terms, IBD. The other types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and microscopic colitis. In ulcerative colitis, the lining of the large intestine is damaged and ulcerates. Once it ulcerates, it begins to ooze blood.
Who is likely to have it?
Ulcerative colitis is common among young people of both sexes, although no age is protected against it. The exact cause of ulcerative colitis remains unknown. Diet and stress were previously suspected, but we now know that these factors can aggravate ulcerative colitis, but do not cause it. One possible cause is a malfunction of the immune system. When your immune system tries to fight off an invading virus or bacteria, an abnormal immune response causes the immune system to also attack cells in the digestive tract.
What are the symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
The symptoms of the disease vary according to the severity. However, the most common symptoms are diarrhea, increased bowel movements, bloody stools, urgency to have a bowel movement, rectal pain, inability to have a bowel movement despite the urge and pain, and occasional incontinence. If the disease becomes severe, it can present with weight loss, swelling of the legs, fatigue, shortness of breath, fever, and lack of height gain in children. Blood in the stool is the characteristic symptom, but diarrhea is not essential.
What are the complications if they are not treated?
If left untreated, the person continues to lose blood and becomes anemic. You may even develop severe diarrhea and diarrhea complications. If the disease is not controlled, it can cause long-term bowel obstruction and even cancers can occur. It can cause affectation of other organs of the body. The person may have joint pain, liver disease, bone disease, skin disease, oral ulcers, and even increased risks of blood clots in the body.
When to see your doctor?
Everyone who has persistent blood loss in their stool, who wakes up at night to have a bowel movement, who has diarrhea, abdominal cramps, or fever should have a checkup. The doctor would evaluate through a few simple blood tests, stool tests, X-rays, and an endoscopic examination. A small biopsy of the intestine should be taken by endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.
What is the treatment for the disease?
Treatment for this disease is usually lifelong. Medications are available to keep the disease under control. Few patients may even require steroids and injectables. As a last resort, the person may have to remove the affected large intestine. There are no specific dietary guidelines, but certain foods and drinks can aggravate symptoms, especially during a flare. During the disease outbreak, they are advised to restrict dairy products, high-fiber foods, and to eat small, frequent meals with plenty of fluids.
Don’t neglect your blood in your stool because hemorrhoids are not the only cause. The longer the delay in diagnosis and the start of treatment, the greater the possibility of complications and the need for surgery.