Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine. It commonly affects the rectum and lower colon but can sometimes involve the entire colon. The exact cause is unknown but factors like genes, the immune system, and environmental triggers may play a role. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. Complications can include osteoporosis, liver disease, bowel cancer, and a rare but serious condition called toxic megacolon. While there is no cure, treatment aims to reduce symptoms and induce long-term remission.

1. ULCERATIVE
COLITIS
AETIOLOGY AND
SYMPTOMS

2. Agenda
01 INTRODUCTION
02 RISK FACTORS
03 ETIOLOGY
04 TYPES
05 COMPLICATIONS
06 SYMPTOMS
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3. 01INTRODUCTIO
N
• Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD),
characterized by the inflammation and ulcerative
aberrations in the wall of the large intestine. It is also
known as “colitis or proctitis”.
• Ulcerative colitis can be debilitating and can sometimes
lead to life-threatening complications. While it has no
known cure, treatment can greatly reduce signs and
symptoms of the disease and bring about long-term
remission.
• Rectum and lower part of the colon are commonly
affected. Sometimes, the entire colon is affected.
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4. Age
 Ulcerative colitis usually affects
people in the age group of 15 to 30
years. But it can occur at any age,
and some people may not develop
the disease until after age 60.
Race or Ethnicity
 Although whites have the highest
risk of the disease, it can occur in
any race. If you're of Ashkenazi
Jewish descent, your risk is even
higher.
Family history.
• You're at higher risk if you have a
close relative, such as a parent,
sibling or child, with the disease.
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RISK
FACTORS

5. 03
5
ETIOLOG
Y
Exact cause for ulcerative colitis is not
known.
Factors that may play a role in who develops UC
include:
1. Genes: Genes may play a role; the disease
sometimes runs in families. Researchers have found
some genes that are potentially associated with the
condition, and between 15 and 20 percent of people
with Crohn’s have a relative with Ulcerative colitis.
2. Immune system: Ulcerative colitis happens when
your immune system makes a mistake. White blood
cells that usually protect you attack the lining of your
colon instead. They cause the inflammation and ulcers.
In inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis
and Crohn's disease), the immune response is
triggered inappropriately by the normal contents of
the gut. One experimental therapy for these
diseases that seems to be successful is to block the
action of cytokines released by the gut-associated
lymphoid tissues
3. Other immune disorders. If a person has one
type of immune disorder, his/her chance for
developing a second is higher.
4. Environmental factors. Bacteria, viruses, and
antigens may also trigger the Immune system.

6. 04 TYPES
Doctors often classify ulcerative colitis according to its location.
Types of ulcerative colitis include:
 Ulcerative proctitis. Inflammation is confined to the area
closest to the anus (rectum), and rectal bleeding may be
the only sign of the disease.
 Proctosigmoiditis. Inflammation involves the rectum and
sigmoid colon — the lower end of the colon. Signs and
symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and
pain, and an inability to move the bowels in spite of the urge
to do so (tenesmus).
 Left-sided colitis. Inflammation extends from the rectum up
through the sigmoid and descending colon. Signs and
symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramping
and pain on the left side, and urgency to defecate.
 Pancolitis. This type often affects the entire colon and
causes bouts of bloody diarrhoea that may be severe,
abdominal cramps and pain, fatigue, and significant weight
loss.

7. 1.Osteoporosis:
People with ulcerative colitis are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, when the
bones become weak and are more likely to fracture.
2. Primary sclerosing cholangitis:
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), where the bile ducts become progressively inflamed and
damaged over time, is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis.
Bile ducts are small tubes used to transport bile (digestive juice) out of the liver and into the
digestive system.
3.Toxic megacolon:
Toxic megacolon is a rare and serious complication of severe ulcerative colitis where
inflammation in the colon causes gas to become trapped, resulting in the colon becoming
enlarged and swollen.
This is potentially very dangerous as it can cause the colon to rupture (split) and cause infection
in the blood (septicaemia).
4. Bowel cancer:
People who have ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer (cancer of
the colon, rectum or bowel), especially if the condition is severe or involves most of the colon.
The longer a person have ulcerative colitis, the greater the risk.
People with ulcerative colitis are often unaware they have bowel cancer as the initial symptoms
of this type of cancer are similar.
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COMPLICATIONS

8. SYMPTOMS AND CLINICAL
FINDINGS
• This disease is predominantly found in young
adults. Initially, it may present itself as a need to
defecate several times a day or diarrhoea with
rectal bleeding.
• Severe loss of water, electrolytes and bleeding
cause weight loss, dehydration, fever, weakness,
and anaemia.
• If necrosis of the tissue is localized without any
external symptoms, the case may be severe and
remedy must be given immediately.
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9. Symptoms:
1. Abdominal pain or cramps
2. Diarrhoea with blood in the
stools
3. Early fatigue, weight loss and
malnutrition
7. Liver diseases like hepatitis,
cirrhosis, etc.
8. Skin rashes
9. Anaemia.
10. Increased stomach sounds
4. Loss of appetite, nausea and
weight loss
5. Arthritis and osteoporosis
characterized by joint pains and
swelling
6. Eye inflammation
11. Fever
12. Rectal pain
13. Mouth sores
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10. BIBLIOGRAPH
Y
1. NUTRITION AND DIETETICS (With Indian Case Studies) Fourth Edition - Shubhangini A Joshi.
2. DIETETICS – Eighth Edition – B. Srilakshmi
3. Essentials of Medical Physiology - Sixth Edition - K Sembulingam Ph.D
4. Human Physiology_ An Integrated Approach-Prentice Hall College Division (2000) - Dee Unglaub
Silverthorn, Andrew C. Silverthorn, Ober, William C, Claire W. Garrison.
5. https://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/ulcerative-colitis/what-is-ulcerative-colitis
6. https://www.healthline.com/health/ulcerative-colitis
7.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10351-ulcerative-colitis
8. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/complications/
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