The Knowledge Board:
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic form of colitis localised in the large intestine or colon and is characterised by the presence of ulcers in the lining of the colon and the rectum. Ulcerative colitis is closely associated to Chron’s disease; together they are called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Like Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis is a long-term (chronic) intermittent disease. It alternates periods of activity during which symptoms flare-up with long periods of remission that can last months or years. Stress may be one of the factors which activate the disease.
The causes of the disease are still unknown, although a genetic component is widely presumed. It seems that environmental factors could trigger the disease in individuals who have a certain predisposition.
Some of these risk factors may be:
Age, the majority of people develop the disease during the adolescence or in their 20s, although a smaller group of people develop it during their 50s and 60s.
Ethnicity, it is more common amongst white people, especially of European origin; a higher incidence has been recorded amongst people of Jewish background; it is very rare amongst black people.
Geographical location, it is more common in the Nordic areas of Western countries, although it appears to be increasing in developing countries for causes still not clear.
Family History, there is sometimes more than one person affected in the same family group. Sclerosing Cholangitis, this chronic liver disease is usually associated with ulcerative colitis.
Although the diet may have an impact on patients’ symptoms, the disease doesn’t seem to be caused by nutritional factors.
Ulcerative Colitis is relatively common, affecting about one person per 600 people in the United States. Although it is usually considered and treated as an autoimmune disease, there is still different theories and opinions about it.
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