Conditions & Diseases: Digestive System

Ulcerative Colitis

See Also:
Ulcerative Colitis: Introduction
Ulcerative Colitis: Types
Ulcerative Colitis: Causes & Risk Factors
Ulcerative Colitis: Signs & Symptoms
Ulcerative Colitis: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Ulcerative Colitis: Treatment Options

Treatment Options

Treatment can be classified into following two types:

1. Medications
2. Surgery

1. Aminosalicylates (e.g. balsalazide, mesalazine, olsalazine, sulfasalazine): Aminosalicylates (e.g. balsalazide, mesalazine, olsalazine, sulfasalazine) are used to treat active colitis and for maintaining remission. The medication could be administered through oral and/or rectal route.

2. Corticosteroids (e.g. budesonide, hydrocortisone, prednisolone): Corticosteroids (e.g. budesonide, hydrocortisone and prednisolone) are effective in treating acute, mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Steroid tablets or capsules are administered (e.g. prednisolone or budesonide) when other treatments are ineffective.

3. Immunosuppressants (e.g. azathioprine, cyclosporine, mercaptopurine): Immunosuppressants (e.g. azathioprine, cyclosporine, mercaptopurine) are used when the condition cannot be controlled by oral steroids without relapse. Immunosuppressants in addition to aminosalicylate are used for maintenance treatment.

Other medicines that are used to treat include:

1. Laxatives and antidiarrheals: Laxatives (e.g. ispaghula husk) are used to help pass stools and Anti-diarrhoeal (e.g. loperamide or codeine) are used to control diarrhea that occurs during remission (7).

2. Nutritional support: This includes changes to your diet and cessation of foods that can cause constipation, stomach disturbance, and indigestion.

Surgery:

In severe cases, surgery may be necessary when colitis doesn't respond to medication. The two main surgical procedures to correct ulcerative colitis are:

1. Ileostomy: In this procedure, the surgeon creates a small opening called a stoma in the abdomen and attaches the end of the small intestine (ileum) to it. The waste will then travel through the small intestine and exit the body from the stoma where it is collected in a pouch that is worn by the patient over the opening.

2. Ileoanal Anastomosis or Pull-through Operation: This procedure preserves part of the anus and permits the patient to have normal bowel movements. The colon and inside of the rectum are removed in this operation leaving the outer muscles of the rectum intact. The ileum is then attached to the inside of the rectum and the anus thus creating a pouch. Waste accumulated in the pouch is passed out through the anus as usual (5).

Prevention Methods

Short-term colitis associated with stomach infections can be prevented by adopting proper hygiene and sanitation measures (1).

See Also:
Ulcerative Colitis: Introduction
Ulcerative Colitis: Types
Ulcerative Colitis: Causes & Risk Factors
Ulcerative Colitis: Signs & Symptoms
Ulcerative Colitis: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Ulcerative Colitis: Treatment Options

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources:

1. Colitis, eMedicineHealth, Samy A Azer, October 2005.
2. What Is Ulcerative Colitis (UC)? ehealthMD, October 2004.
3. Ulcerative Colitis, MedicineNet, Dennis Lee, August 2007.
4. What Are The Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis? ehealthMD, October 2004.
5. Ulcerative Colitis, National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), February 2006.
6. What Tests And Procedures Are Used To Diagnose Ulcerative Colitis? ehealthMD, October 2004.
7. Ulcerative colitis, Health encyclopaedia, NHS Direct, October 2007.