Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease which, if left untreated, could increase colon cancer risk.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which usually affects the lower left area of the colon known as the sigmoid colon. At times, the entire section of the colon may be affected.

This disease is characterized by inflammation and ulcers on the intestinal wall of the affected part of the colon. Ulcerative colitis normally affects the first layer of the intestinal lining called the mucosal membrane.
On the other hand, Crohn’s disease involves the entire thickness of the intestinal wall of the colon.

Ulcerative colitis symptoms

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are similar to Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

These are:

Diarrhea with bloody stools
Pain in the lower left side of the abdomen
Fever
Nausea
Lacking in energy, listless

Diarrhea from ulcerative colitis can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
It is therefore important to replace electrolyte on a regular basis as it could lead to shock. A serious complication of ulcerative colitis occurs when the entire colon is damaged. This affects the ability of the colon to perform its normal function.
Besides this, increased cancer risk is another complication that can develop.