Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can cause a range of symptoms and complications. Identifying the early signs is crucial for timely treatment and management of the condition.
What is Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and sores in the digestive tract, explains the Mayo Clinic. 1 It affects the colon and rectum’s innermost lining and can cause symptoms that develop slowly over time. This condition can be exhausting and, in some cases, may lead to severe complications.
Warning Signs of Ulcerative Colitis
Abdominal pain, loose and urgent bowel movements, as well as diarrhea with blood or pus are typically the first warning signs or symptoms of ulcerative colitis. According to Everyday Health, the symptoms of this disease generally appear slowly and have a fluctuating nature. 2
Remission periods without active disease can last for months or years. As time progresses, the disease may extend to a larger area of the colon, resulting in severe disease and more prominent symptoms, adds the source.
Common Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
The Cleveland Clinic provides a list of other common symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis. 3 These symptoms usually worsen as time goes on. Initially, people may experience diarrhea or the need for urgent bowel movements, fatigue, nausea, weight loss, abdominal cramping, and anemia.
As the disease progresses and inflammation persists, the source adds the following symptoms: blood, mucus or pus in bowel movements, fever, severe cramping, mouth sores, skin rashes, liver disease, pain, red eyes, and loss of fluids and nutrients.
Early Detection and Diagnosis
After conducting a physical examination, a physician may perform the following tests:
- Blood tests: Blood will be checked for signs of infection or anemia, which is a low level of iron in your blood that can indicate bleeding in your colon or rectum.
- Stool samples: Stool will be analyzed for signs of infection, inflammation, or parasites, which are tiny organisms that can live in a person’s body.
- Imaging tests: To obtain a picture of your colon and rectum, you may undergo an MRI or CT scan.
- Endoscopic tests: Doctors may insert an endoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera through your anus to check the health of your rectum and colon.