Ulcerative Colitis, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease, is More Prevalent in People with a Family History of Diabetes and Obesity

 

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. The condition is more prevalent in people with a family history of diabetes, weak immune system, obesity, and smoking or alcohol abuse. It can also affect people with a history of peptic ulcer disease and lupus.

Ulcerative colitis can have a wide range of symptoms. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain and discomfort, fever, nausea, and weight loss. Other symptoms may include the development of fistulas, perforated pockets or lesions, skin rash, night sweats, diarrhea or constipation, blood in the stool or urine, or osteonecrosis. If you have one or more of these symptoms it is important to visit your physician for a proper diagnosis and evaluation.

There are several medications available for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. One of these medications is aminosalicylates; these medications include sulfasalazine, sulfamethoxazole, methylene blue, and flucytosine. Several other medications are available such as doxycycline, pentoxifylline, levofloxacin, clarithromycin, tobramycin, cefuroxime, and topiramate. These medications are typically used to treat severe ulcerative colitis that has failed to respond to previous treatments.

In most cases ulcerative colitis will not require any type of medication in order to effectively control the symptoms. However, doctors will most likely recommend the use of steroids in patients with long-term symptoms. These medications are effective at reducing the inflammation and pain that is caused by this disease. They can be administered orally in order to bring about a quicker healing time.

If you have had an active infection with Helicobacter pylori, you may also experience severe ulcerative colitis symptoms. The infection with this bacterium causes ulcers in the intestinal lining. In addition to causing bloody diarrhea, this infection can also cause serious nutritional deficiencies, cause irritable bowel symptoms, and can even lead to osteonecrosis. If you experience one or more of these symptoms it is important to contact your doctor right away.

If you do not treat your ulcerative colitis symptoms promptly they can become chronic. Because of this, they can also lead to a lack of remission when the body's immune system is continually threatened by inflammation. If you suffer from long-term symptoms and a poor immune system, there is a high risk of developing a relapse. If you are able to successfully recover from your ulcerative colitis, your chances of developing another episode in the future are high.

When you first start to notice the symptoms of ulcerative colitis, you may notice an overall reduction in weight and appetite. You might also notice increased dark urine, an increase in diarrhea, and fatigue. As your immune system weakens, it becomes more difficult for the body to fight off infections. As a result, you may need to increase your fiber intake as well as take a higher dose of vitamin D in order to keep your weight in check. Because you are not producing the necessary antibodies to help fight infection, your doctor will probably recommend the use of a corticosteroid to help boost your immune system.