Ulcerative colitis

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Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

Ulcerative colitis

Alternative Names

Inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis

Symptoms

Abdominal pain and cramping that usually disappears after a bowel movement
Abdominal sounds (a gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine)
Diarrhea, from only a few episodes to very often throughout the day (blood and mucus may be present)
Fever
Tenesmus
Weight loss

Other symptoms that may occur with ulcerative colitis include the following:

Exams and Tests

Barium enema
Colonoscopy with biopsy

Your doctor may also order the following blood tests:

Complete blood count (CBC)
C-reactive protein (CRP)
Sedimentation rate (ESR)

References

Graham L. AGA Reviews the Use of Corticosteroids, Immunomodulators, and Infliximab in IBD. Am Fam Physician. 2007;75:410-412.

Moyer MS. Chronic ulcerative colitis in childhood. J Pediatr. 2006;148:325.

Langan RC. Ulcerative colitis: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76:1323-30.


Colonoscopy


Digestive system


Ulcerative colitis

Review Date: 2/20/2008
Reviewed By: Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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