Diagnosis and Management of Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is one part of inflammatory bowel disease and a chronic illness characterized by diffuse inflammation in the colonic mucosa. Ulcerative colitis is also influenced by lifestyle such as smoking, a diet high in sugar and fat, drug use, and stress. Genetic factors also have a role in ulcerative colitis. This study aimed to review the diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis. The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease is a result of continuous antigen stimulation by commensal enteric bacteria, fungi and viruses causing chronic inflammation in hosts with a genetic disorder and defects in mucosal barrier function as well as immunoregulation. The main clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis are diarrhea with blood and mucus and abdominal pain. The diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is established based on typical clinical symptoms, stool examination, colonoscopy, and biopsy checks. These steps are performed to confirm the presence of colitis and to exclude infection. A typical endoscopic and histological outcome with negative outcomes from evaluation for infectious diseases will support the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Treatment of ulcerative colitis should be adjusted to the severity of the disease, divided into therapeutics for maintenance and therapy for remission. The goal of therapy is to induce and maintain remission conditions to improve patients’ quality of life, reduce long-term steroid requirements and minimize cancer risk. Patients' prognosis is generally quite good despite the often-deteriorating quality of life.