Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease that is characterized by inflammation of the large intestine (colon). The colon is extremely critical to our body as it is a part of the digestive system where waste material is stored and then passed out of the body. Therefore, infections to the colon may severely affect the natural waste disposal mechanisms of our body. As such, colitis ulcerative treatment should be started early on.

Ulcerative Colitis is a disease that if detected early can take a very simple course of treatment to alleviate the symptoms that accompany a ulcerative colitis flare-up. However, the fact is that, aside from surgery to remove portions of the colon, Ulcerative Colitis does not have a permanent cure nevertheless; treatment of symptoms can be very effective. Typically, Ulcerative Colitis has periods of relapse (when the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis appears in the patient) and remission (the symptoms of ulcerative colitis subside completely in the patient). One immediate tip to the patients would be to be extremely careful during the relapse times of Ulcerative Colitis as this is the time when the patients suffer from extreme abdominal pain and report diarrhea with blood samples in it.

How can Ulcerative Colitis be treated?

· Medications – Anti-inflammatory drugs like sulfasalazine, olsalazine and mesalamine have been used very effectively for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis. In cases where the patient does not respond to anti-inflammatory drugs, patients are administered with corticosteroids. One tip for doctors who wish to administer corticosteroids to their patients, please do it for a short term as corticosteroids have dangerous side effects when used over the long term. Immunomodulators are another form of treatment used for treating ulcerative colitis. These are drugs that suppress the human immune system by reduction of cells responsible for immunity. Drugs like cyclosporine, azathioprine etc are used as immunomodulators.

· Surgery – In cases where severe symptoms of ulcerative colitis are noted in patients, the course of surgery is taken to treat ulcerative colitis. In most cases, doctors prescribe surgery as an option when medications have failed to control the colitis' symptoms.

· Diet – Not many people know that Ulcerative Colitis can be treated effectively with good control of a sufferer's diet. My immediate advice on diet would be for the patients to quit alcohol, caffeine, and any other form of cola drinks. During the relapse period, the patient must eat low fiber food and this can be changed to a high-fiber diet during the remission period. Lastly, avoid vegetables from the cabbage family like cabbage, broccoli, mushroom etc. However, your doctor will most likely have a much more specific colitis ulcerative treatment diet, and should be consulted for his/her recommendations.

Colitis |