A Brief Overview Of Colitis

Colitis, more formally known as Ulcerative Colitis, is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It can be difficult to diagnose because of the similarity of symptoms to other intestinal disorders and IBDs such as Crohn's disease. The main difference is that Crohn's disease causes inflammation deeper within the intestinal wall and usually occurs in the small intestine, although it can occur anyway along the digestive tract from mouth to anus, whereas Colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine. The inflammation is usually found in the rectum and lower portion of the colon, but it can effect the entire colon. Colitis can affect people of any age, but generally symptoms start between 15 and 30. Children and teenagers sometimes develop the disease but it is less common, as are sufferers over 50. The inflammation within the intestines causes diarrhea, as the colon empties more frequently. Ulcers appear where the inflammation has killed the cells lining the colon, which then bleed and produce pus. Like Crohn