Ulcerative Colitis

Home » Ulcerative Colitis » Signs and Symptoms

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your GI Condition
(Free Handout)

Signs and Symptoms

The primary symptom of ulcerative colitis is progressive loosening of the stool (fecal matter). Loose stools often are accompanied by cramping, blood in the stool, and an urgent need to have a bowel movement. About 50% of people with colitis have mild symptoms, and symptoms tend to come and go.

Other symptoms include the following:

• Anemia (low red blood cell count; causes by bleeding in the GI tract)
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Night sweats
• Skin lesions
• Weight loss

Children who have ulcerative colitis may experience stunted growth, as the disease interferes with the proper absorption of nutrients.

Complications
Ulcerative colitis is associated with arthritis, eye inflammation, liver disease, and osteoporosis. The connection is not clear, but may be that increased inflammation in the colon causes an abnormal immune response in these other areas as well.

In rare cases, ulcerative colitis may lead to a condition called toxic megacolon. In this condition, the colon becomes paralyzed, and waste and gas build up in the organ. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, swelling, fever, weakness, and disorientation. This condition, which may cause the colon to rupture, leading to peritonitis and death, requires immediate medical treatment.

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ulcerative Colitis Resources

	Join Our Ulcerative Colitis Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer