Signs and symptoms
From Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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[edit] Signs and Symptoms
[edit] An Auto-Immune Disease
While these two diseases seem similar there are several key differences. For starters ulcerative colitis occurs only in the intestines, whereas Crohn's disease can occur all over the gastrointestinal tract. The term ulcerative colitis is indicative of the fact that ulcers develop in the GI tract. Both of these diseases are auto-immune diseases, so the white blood cells of the immune system work against the body and cause the problems. This further supports the genetics theory due to the fact that it seems to be a basic brain malfunction causing the white blood cells to turn on the body.
[edit] What is Occuring
What occurs in these diseases, is that the white blood cells attack the GI tract and create ulcers. These ulcers in many cases eat through the Mucosa (GI lining) and all the way into the Serosa (muscle lining). These ulcers can bore holes completely through the GI tract and at this point if something were to pass through the intestines where this hole was, it could kill the patient. this also results in the passing of blood, one of the tell tale signs of inflammatory bowel disease.
[edit] Common Signs
Another aspect of ulcerative colitis refers to the umbrella term of inflammatory bowel disease. The GI tract, due to the irritation caused by the white blood cells, becomes inflamed and the swelling of the tract can become so large at times that it can cause blockages. When these blockages occur they result in intense cramping in the lower right abdomen. These blockages also cause incessant urges to use the bathroom, but due to the severity of the blockage, these trips will have no result. During what is commonly called a flare up, these urges can occur as frequently as up to 10 times a day.
