Introduction
Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The disease results in ulcers on the inflamed large intestine that results in mucous and pus. Ulcerative Colitis (UC) most commonly affects the rectum and sigmoid colon with ulceration of the colonic mucosa (book). There are varying types of UC that affect different regions of the colon. These types include: Ulcerative Proctitis, Proctosigmoiditis, Left-sided Colitis and Pan-ulcerative (total) Colitis. Ulcerative Proctitis affects 30% of those with Ulcerative Colitis. This type causes inflammation, redness and ulcers on the lining of the rectum and is a milder form of UC (“Types of Ulcerative Colitis,” n.d.). Proctosigmoiditis is a colitis that affects …show more content…
If UC is suspected then a medical history, clinical evaluation, full blood count, erythrocyte sediment rate, C-reactive protein, stool microbiology, ultrasound and endoscopy with biopsies is performed (Meier & Sturm, 2011). Diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis can be challenging due to the large number of varying cases of it. If we consider 4 different distribution patterns (Proctitis, Proctosigmoiditis, Left-sided and Pan-ulcerative), 4 disease activities (remission, mild, moderate, severe), and 4 possible disease courses (asymptomatic after initial flare, increase in severity over time, chronic continuous symptoms, chronic relapsing symptoms), results in 64 varying situations that need evaluated before treatment recommendation (Meier & Sturm, 2011). In addition age, sex, medical intolerances and lifestyle need to be evaluated before deciding what therapeutic approach should be taken for the patient. It can become complicated to make treatment plans that take all of these variations into consideration. Finding the best treatment for the patient can be a painful and long
Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The disease results in ulcers on the inflamed large intestine that results in mucous and pus. Ulcerative Colitis (UC) most commonly affects the rectum and sigmoid colon with ulceration of the colonic mucosa (book). There are varying types of UC that affect different regions of the colon. These types include: Ulcerative Proctitis, Proctosigmoiditis, Left-sided Colitis and Pan-ulcerative (total) Colitis. Ulcerative Proctitis affects 30% of those with Ulcerative Colitis. This type causes inflammation, redness and ulcers on the lining of the rectum and is a milder form of UC (“Types of Ulcerative Colitis,” n.d.). Proctosigmoiditis is a colitis that affects …show more content…
If UC is suspected then a medical history, clinical evaluation, full blood count, erythrocyte sediment rate, C-reactive protein, stool microbiology, ultrasound and endoscopy with biopsies is performed (Meier & Sturm, 2011). Diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis can be challenging due to the large number of varying cases of it. If we consider 4 different distribution patterns (Proctitis, Proctosigmoiditis, Left-sided and Pan-ulcerative), 4 disease activities (remission, mild, moderate, severe), and 4 possible disease courses (asymptomatic after initial flare, increase in severity over time, chronic continuous symptoms, chronic relapsing symptoms), results in 64 varying situations that need evaluated before treatment recommendation (Meier & Sturm, 2011). In addition age, sex, medical intolerances and lifestyle need to be evaluated before deciding what therapeutic approach should be taken for the patient. It can become complicated to make treatment plans that take all of these variations into consideration. Finding the best treatment for the patient can be a painful and long