Ulcerative Colitis, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum which causes ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum.
The ulcers can then bleed and produce pus, leading to the rapid emptying of the colon and diarrhea.
It has been suggested that an autoimmune disease is the main cause of Ulcerative Colitis disease.
Psychological problems like stress and anxiety are not a cause of Ulcerative Colitis but have been known to trigger off the disease.
Mild cases (about 50%) usually have:
1. An insidious onset
2. Lower abdominal pain
3. Slight blood stained diarrhea
In the more severe cases, the main symptoms may be:
1. Abrupt onset
2. Severe diffuse abdominal pain
3. Bloody diarrhea
4. Fever
5. Shock
Colonoscopy is also done to confirm evidence of ulcerative colitis and exclude malignant tumors.
Mild Cases:
1. Antidiarheal and bulk forming agents
2. Antispasmodic medication for spasm of the colon
3. Sulfasalazine (immunosuppressant) given indefinitely
Other 5-ASA agents, such as olsalazine, mesalamine, and balsalazide, may be used by people who cannot take sulfasalazine.
4. Topical corticosteroids as retention enema or suppositories only where the rectum is involved.
5. Correction of anemia
Severe cases:
1. Hospitalization with bed rest, fluids, electrolyte replacement and blood transfusion if necessary
2. Systemic corticosteroids (intravenous initially, followed by oral medications)
These should not be given for long term usage because of side effects.
3. Oral mesalazine (immunosuppressant) given indefinitely
4. Azathioprine (Imuran), Cyclosporine (Neoral) and 6-mercapto-purine (6-MP) all other immunosuppressants can also reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system
5. Infliximab (Remicade) is an anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agent is given through intravenous infusion every 6 to 8 weeks at a hospital or outpatient center.
Side effects may include toxicity and increased risk of infections, particularly tuberculosis.
6. Antibiotics in toxic megacolon syndrome
Surgery is done if the attacks are severe, do not respond to treatment, toxic megacolon or uncontrollable bleeding.
Surgery is also done for complications such as a fistula or intestinal obstruction.
In more severe cases a total proctocolectomy with ileostomy (a stoma is left in the abdomen for disposal of feces) is done and is usually curative.
Ileoanal anastomosis in which the ileum is attached to the anus allows the patient to have normal bowel movements because the anus is preserved.
Emergency surgery may be done for perforation, peritonitis, or continued bleeding.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Ulcerative Colitis
Chapter 2 More Facts of Ulcerative Colitis
Chapter 3 Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
Chapter 4 Crohn Syndrome
Chapter 5 Diverticulosis
Chapter 6 Osteoporosis
Chapter 7 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Nov 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370808045

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Ulcerative Colitis,

A

Simple

Guide

To

The Condition,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2014 Smashwords Edition

Published By Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes the Ulcerative Colitis, Treatment and Related Diseases or in vernacular terms

(What You Need to treat Ulcerative Colitis)

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

Ode to Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon

Ulcerative Colitis causes ulcers in the colon lining very similar to Crohn

Crohn’s disease differs by causing inflammation deeper in the intestinal lining.

It can occur in other parts of the digestive system including the small intestine

The exact cause of Ulcerative Colitis is not known

Some races like Jews have Ulcerative Colitis more common

Some believe that the cause of Ulcerative Colitis is hereditary

The disease appears to occur more in people with a family history

A common belief is that the disease is a reaction to immunity

Immune reactions can compromise the intestinal wall integrity

The cardinal symptom of Ulcerative Colitis is bloody diarrhea

Loss of blood can lead to pallor, weakness: symptoms of anemia

In mild cases medicine is given indefinitely with mesalazine

Systemic corticosteroids may be given to help the healing

Antibiotics may be given in the syndrome toxic megacolon

Surgery is done for complications such as intestinal obstruction

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Interesting Tips about the Ulcerative Colitis

A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Take a well Balanced Diet

2. Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

a. Antidiarheal and bulk forming agents

b. Antispasmodic medication for spasm of the colon

c. Oral mesalazine (immunosuppressant) given indefinitely

Other 5-ASA agents, such as olsalazine, mesalamine, and balsalazide, may be used by people who cannot take Oral mesalazine.

d. Topical corticosteroids as retention enema or suppositories only where the rectum is involved.

e. Correction of anemia

Severe cases:

a. Hospitalization with bed rest, fluids, electrolyte replacement and blood transfusion if necessary

b. Systemic corticosteroids (intravenous initially, followed by oral medications)

c. Oral mesalazine (immunosuppressant) given indefinitely

d. Azathioprine (Imuran), Cyclosporine (Neoral) and 6-mercapto-purine (6-MP) all other immunosuppressants can also reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system

e. Infliximab (Remicade) is an anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agent is given through intravenous infusion every 6 to 8 weeks at a hospital or outpatient center.

f. Antibiotics in toxic megacolon syndrome

Surgery if the attacks are severe, do not respond to treatment, toxic megacolon or uncontrollable bleeding.

Surgery is also done for complications such as a fistula or intestinal obstruction.

In more severe cases a total proctocolectomy with ileostomy is done and is usually curative.

3. Keep bones and body strong

Bone marrow produces our blood

Eat foods rich in calcium like yogurt, cheese, milk, and dark green vegetables.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, like eggs, fatty fish, cereal, and fortified milk.

Eat food rich in Vitamins B and C such as green vegetables and fruits

Zinc and other minerals are important to the body

4. Get enough rest and Sleep

Avoid stress and tension

5. Exercise and stay active.

It is best to do weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights for 2½ hours a week.

One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.

Begin slowly especially if a person has not been active.

6. Do not drink more than 2 alcohol drinks a day for a man or 1 alcohol drink a day for a woman.

Alcohol use also increases the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

Alcohol can affect the neurons and brain cells.

7. Stop or do not begin smoking.

It also interferes with blood supply and healing.

Chapter 1

Ulcerative Colitis

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum which causes ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum.

The ulcers can then bleed and produce pus, leading to the rapid emptying of the colon and diarrhea.

Who is affected by Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis is more common nine times more in Jews than non-Jews and in whites than non-whites in some ways similar to Crohn’s Disease

Most cases begin at the age range of 15-30 years and occur less frequently between the ages of 50-70 years.

Those above the age of 60 years have more severe symptoms and signs.

It occurs equally in men and women and can be found in families.

What is the Cause of Ulcerative Colitis?

Causes:

The exact cause of Ulcerative Colitis is not known.

It has been suggested that an autoimmune disease is the main cause of Ulcerative Colitis disease.

Psychological problems like stress and anxiety are not a cause of Ulcerative Colitis but have been known to trigger off the disease.

What are the Symptoms and signs of Ulcerative Colitis?

Symptoms:

The symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Mild cases (about 50%) usually have:

1. An insidious onset

2. Lower abdominal pain

3. Slight blood stained diarrhea

4. Malaise

In the more severe cases, the main symptoms may be:

1. Abrupt onset

2. Severe diffuse abdominal pain