What is ulcerative colitis (UC)?
UC is a chronic disease (it never fully goes away), and it causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) on the lining of the large intestine (colon). This causes frequent bowel movements and leads to symptoms such as:
- Bloody diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Urgency (immediate need to find a toilet)
UC can affect people at any age, but most are diagnosed between their late teens and early 30s. With UC, months can go by without any symptoms. These periods of time are known as "remission." However, symptoms can return or become “active,” and this is often called a UC flare.
Researchers do not know the exact cause of UC, but the condition may involve an autoimmune response in which your body becomes defensive or “fights” certain substances inside of the colon—even if they are good for you or your colon.
At this time, there is no cure for UC, but effective treatments are available to reduce symptoms and help get patients into remission, and keep them there for extended periods of time.