Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic illness that causes the inflammation of and open sores, or ulcers, along the innermost lining of the large intestine. The inflammation and ulcers can begin at the rectum or lower colon and affect the entire length of the large intestine.
If Ulcerative Colitis (UC) affects only the rectum, it is called ulcerative proctitis, and if it affects only the left side of the colon, it is called limited or distal colitis. The more common form of the condition, which involves the entire colon, is called pancolitis. While the cause of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is unknown, various studies suggest that it may be inherited (genetic) or caused by the immune system's response to a foreign trigger such as a bacterium or virus. In fact, the condition is most often treated with immunosuppressant drugs and can vary between periods of activity, or flares, to inactivity, or remission. Both men and women are affected equally by Ulcerative Colitis (UC).Though Ulcerative Colitis (UC) causes inflammation like Crohn's Disease, (Crohns), Crohn's Disease can cause inflammation at locations throughout the entire intestinal tract, including the small intestine and esophagus, while Ulcerative Colitis (UC) affects only the large intestine. Additionally, Crohn's (Crohns) Disease can affect the entire thickness of the intestinal wall, while Ulcerative Colitis (UC) affects only the innermost lining of the large intestinal wall. Because both conditions affect the intestinal tract, and cause similar symptoms of bloody and frequent diarrhea, cramping, nausea, and fatigue, they are classified as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD).
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