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Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed.

The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel where poo is stored.

Small ulcers can develop on the colon's lining, and can bleed and produce pus.

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis

The main symptoms of ulcerative colitis are:

• recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus
• tummy pain
• needing to poo frequently

You may also experience extreme tiredness (fatigue), loss of appetite and weight loss.

The severity of the symptoms varies, depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed and how severe the inflammation is.

For some people, the condition has a significant impact on their everyday lives.

Symptoms of a flare-up

Some people may go for weeks or months with very mild symptoms, or none at all (remission), followed by periods where the symptoms are particularly troublesome (flare-ups or relapses).

During a flare-up, some people with ulcerative colitis also experience symptoms elsewhere in their body; which are known as extra-intestinal symptoms.

These can include:

• painful and swollen joints (arthritis)
• mouth ulcers
• swollen fat under the skin causing bumps and patches – this is known as erythema nodosum
• irritated and red eyes
• problems with bones, such as osteoporosis

In many people, no specific trigger for flare-ups is identified, although a gut infection can occasionally be the cause.

Stress is also thought to be a potential factor.

When to get medical advice

You should see a GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of ulcerative colitis and you have not been diagnosed with the condition.

They can arrange blood or poo sample tests to help determine what may be causing your symptoms.

If necessary, they can refer you to hospital for further tests.

If you have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and think you may be having a severe flare-up, contact a GP or your care team for advice.

You may need to be urgently admitted to hospital for immediate care.

What causes ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is thought to be an autoimmune condition.

This means the immune system, the body's defence against infection, goes wrong and attacks healthy tissue.

The most popular theory is that the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria inside the colon as a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, causing it to become inflamed.

Exactly what causes the immune system to behave in this way is unclear.

Many experts think it's a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Who's affected

The UK Crohn's & Colitis UK charity reports at least 1 in every 227 people in the UK has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. This amounts to around 296,000 people.

The condition can develop at any age, but is most often diagnosed in people between 15 and 25 years old.

It's more common in white people of European descent, especially those descended from Ashkenazi Jewish communities, and black people.

The condition is rarer in people from Asian backgrounds, although the reasons for this are unclear.

Both men and women seem to be equally affected by ulcerative colitis.

How ulcerative colitis is treated

Treatment for ulcerative colitis aims to relieve symptoms during a flare-up and prevent symptoms from returning (maintaining remission).

In most people, this is achieved by taking medicine, such as:

• aminosalicylates (ASAs)
• corticosteroids (steroid medicines)
• immunosuppressants

Mild to moderate flare-ups can usually be treated at home. But more severe flare-ups need to be treated in hospital.

If medicines are not effective at controlling your symptoms or your quality of life is significantly affected by your condition, surgery to remove some or all of your bowel (colon) may be an option.

During surgery, your small intestine can be diverted out of an opening in your abdomen known as a stoma. This type of surgery is known as an ileostomy.

In some cases, the stoma is only temporary and can be closed up once your bowel has healed.

An alternative option is to create an internal pouch that's connected to your anus called an ileoanal pouch.

Read more about treating ulcerative colitis

Complications of ulcerative colitis

Complications of ulcerative colitis include:

• an increased risk of developing bowel cancer
• poor growth and development in children and young people

Also, the steroid medicines used to treat ulcerative colitis can cause weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) as a side effect.

Read more about the complications of ulcerative colitis

IBD or IBS?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term mainly used to describe 2 conditions that cause inflammation of the gut (gastrointestinal tract).

They are:

• ulcerative colitis
• Crohn's disease

IBD should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is a different condition and requires different treatment.

 Causes Ulcerative colitis 

The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, although it's thought to be the result of a problem with the immune system.

Autoimmune condition

The immune system is the body's defence against infection. Some experts believe ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune condition (when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue).

The immune system normally fights off infections by releasing white blood cells into the blood to destroy the cause of the infection.

This results in swelling and redness (inflammation) of body tissue in the infected area.

In ulcerative colitis, a theory is that the immune system mistakes "friendly bacteria" in the colon, which aid digestion, as a harmful infection, leading to the colon and rectum becoming inflamed.

Alternatively, some researchers believe a viral or bacterial infection triggers the immune system, but for some reason it does not "turn off" once the infection has passed and continues to cause inflammation.

It's also been suggested that no infection is involved and the immune system may just malfunction, or that there's an imbalance between good and bad bacteria within the bowel.

Genetics

It also seems inherited genes may be a factor in the development of ulcerative colitis.

You may be more likely to have ulcerative colitis if you have a close relative with the condition.

Researchers have identified several genes that seem to make people more likely to develop ulcerative colitis.

It's believed many of these genes play a role in the immune system.

Environmental factors

Where and how you live also seems to affect your chances of developing ulcerative colitis, which suggests environmental factors are important.

For example, the condition is more common in urban areas of northern parts of western Europe and America.

Various environmental factors that may be linked to ulcerative colitis have been studied, including air pollution, medicine and certain diets.

Although no factors have so far been identified, countries with improved sanitation seem to have a higher population of people with the condition.

This suggests that reduced exposure to bacteria may be an important factor.

 Diagnosis Ulcerative colitis 

To diagnose ulcerative colitis, your GP will first ask about your symptoms, general health and medical history.

They'll also physically examine you, checking for signs such as paleness (caused by anaemia) and tenderness in your tummy (caused by inflammation).

A poo sample can be checked for signs of infection, as gastroenteritis (infection of the stomach and bowel) can sometimes have similar symptoms to ulcerative colitis.

Blood tests may also be carried out to check for anaemia and to see if there's inflammation on any part of your body.

Further tests

If your GP suspects you may have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (a term mainly used to describe 2 diseases – ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), you may be referred to hospital for further tests.

These could include an X-ray or CT scan to rule out serious complications and a detailed examination of your rectum and colon.

Sigmoidoscopy

A diagnosis of ulcerative colitis can be confirmed by examining the level and extent of bowel inflammation.

This is initially done by using a sigmoidoscope, a thin, flexible tube containing a camera that's inserted into your rectum (bottom).

A sigmoidoscopy can also be used to remove a small sample of tissue from your bowel so it can be tested in a laboratory. This is known as a biopsy.

The procedure can be uncomfortable and you can be given a sedative to help you relax.

It usually takes around 15 minutes and you can often go home the same day.

During this procedure, only the rectum and lower part of the colon are examined.

If it's thought your ulcerative colitis has affected more of your colon, another examination will be required. This is known as a colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy uses a flexible tube containing a camera called a colonoscope, which allows your entire colon to be examined. A biopsy sample can also be taken.

Before having a colonoscopy, your colon needs to be completely empty, so you'll need to take strong laxatives beforehand.

A colonoscopy can be uncomfortable, but you'll be given sedatives and pain medicines to help you relax and make the procedure as painless as possible.

The procedure takes around half an hour and you'll be able to go home the same day.

 Treatment Ulcerative colitis 

Treatment for ulcerative colitis depends on how severe the condition is and how often your symptoms flare-up.

The main aims of treatment are to:

• reduce symptoms, known as inducing remission (a period without symptoms)
• maintain remission

This usually involves taking various types of medicine, although surgery may sometimes be an option.

Your treatment will normally be provided by a range of healthcare professionals, including:

• specialist doctors, such as gastroenterologists or surgeons
• GPs
• specialist nurses

Your care will often be co-ordinated by your specialist nurse and your care team, and they'll usually be your main point of contact if you need help and advice.

Aminosalicylates

Aminosalicylates, also known as 5-ASAs, are medicines that help to reduce inflammation. This in turn allows damaged tissue to heal.

They're usually the first treatment option for mild or moderate ulcerative colitis.

5-ASAs can be used as a short-term treatment for flare-ups. They can also be taken long term, usually for the rest of your life, to maintain remission.

5-ASAs can be taken:

• orally – by swallowing a tablet or capsule
• as a suppository – a capsule that you insert into your bottom (rectum), where it dissolves
• through an enema – where fluid is pumped into your large intestine

How you take 5-ASAs depends on the severity and extent of your condition.

If you have mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis, you'll usually be offered a 5-ASA to take in suppository or enema form.

If your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks, you may be advised to take 5-ASA in tablet or capsule form as well.

These medicines rarely have side effects, but some people may experience:

• headaches
• feeling sick
• tummy pain
• a rash
• diarrhoea

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids, such as prednisolone, are an alternative type of medicine used to reduce inflammation.

They can be used with or instead of 5-ASAs to treat a flare-up if 5-ASAs alone are not effective.

Like 5-ASAs, steroids can be administered orally, or through a suppository or enema.

But unlike 5-ASAs, corticosteroids are not used as a long-term treatment to maintain remission because they can cause potentially serious side effects, such as weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) and cloudy patches in the lens of the eye (cataracts), when used for a long time.

Side effects of short-term steroid use can include:

• acne
• weight gain
• increased appetite
• mood changes, such as becoming more irritable
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

Immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressants, such as tacrolimus and azathioprine, are medicines that reduce the activity of the immune system.

They're usually given as tablets to treat mild or moderate flare-ups, or maintain remission if your symptoms have not responded to other medicines.

Immunosuppressants can be very effective in treating ulcerative colitis, but they may take a while to start working.

The medicines can make you more vulnerable to infection, so it's important to report any signs of infection, such as a high temperature or sickness, promptly to a GP.

They can also lower the production of red blood cells, making you prone to anaemia.

You'll need regular blood tests to monitor your blood cell levels and check for any other problems.

Treating severe flare-ups

While mild or moderate flare-ups can usually be treated at home, more severe flare-ups should be managed in hospital to minimise the risk of dehydration and potentially fatal complications, such as your colon rupturing.

In hospital, you'll be given medicine and sometimes fluids directly into a vein (intravenously).

The medicines you have may be a type of corticosteroid or an immunosuppressant medicine called infliximab or ciclosporin.

Ciclosporin

Ciclosporin is given slowly through a drip in your arm (an infusion) and treatment will usually be continuous, for around 7 days.

Side effects of intravenous ciclosporin can include:

• an uncontrollable shaking or trembling of part of the body (a tremor)
• excessive hair growth
• extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• swollen gums
• feeling and being sick
• diarrhoea

Ciclosporin can also cause high blood pressure and reduced kidney and liver function, but you'll be monitored regularly during treatment to check for signs of these.

Biologic medicines

Biologic medicines are medicines that reduce inflammation of the intestine by targeting proteins the immune system uses to stimulate inflammation.

These medicines block these receptors and reduce inflammation.

They may be used to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis if other options are not suitable or not working.

Biologic medicines are given in hospital as an infusion through a drip in your arm every 4 to 12 weeks, or as an injection every 1 to 4 weeks.

Your treatment team will then see how you respond to treatment. If your symptoms are under control (remission) for a year or more, they may recommend treatment is stopped.

Biologic medicines affect your immune system and can increase your risk of getting infections. Talk to a GP if you have any symptoms of a possible infection, such as coughs, a high temperature or a sore throat.

JAK inhibitors

There are now new types of medicines called JAK inhibitors, such as tofacitinib and filgotinib, that can be used to treat ulcerative colitis.

These work by blocking enzymes (proteins) that the immune system uses to trigger inflammation.

JAK inhibitors can be taken as tablets.

JAK inhibitors may be recommended for people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis if standard treatments or biologics have not worked, or are not suitable.

JAK inhibitors are not recommended for use in pregnancy. Women should use reliable contraception when taking them, for at least 4 weeks after finishing the course.

Ozanimod

A medicine called ozanimod may be recommended for people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis if standard treatments or biologic medicines have not worked or are not suitable.

It comes as tablets that you take once a day. You'll usually take it long term. You'll have regular checks with your treatment team to see if it's working well for you.

Ozanimod affects your immune system and can increase your risk of getting infections. Talk to a GP if you have any symptoms of a possible infection, such as coughs, a high temperature or a sore throat.

Etrasimod

A medicine called etrasimod may be recommended for people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis if standard treatments or biologic medicines have not worked or are not suitable.

It comes as tablets that you take once a day. You’ll usually take it long term. You’ll have regular checks with your treatment team to see if it’s working well for you.

Etrasimod affects your immune system and can increase your risk of getting infections. Talk to a GP if you have any symptoms of a possible infection, such as coughs, a high temperature or a sore throat.

Surgery

If you have frequent flare-ups that have a significant effect on your quality of life, or you have a particularly severe flare-up that's not responding to medicines, surgery may be an option.

Surgery for ulcerative colitis involves permanently removing the colon (a colectomy).

Once your colon is removed, your small intestine will be used to pass waste products out of your body instead of your colon.

This can be achieved by creating:

• an ileostomy – where the small intestine is diverted out of a hole made in your tummy; special bags are placed over this opening to collect waste materials after the operation
• an ileoanal pouch (also known as a J-pouch) – where part of the small intestine is used to create an internal pouch that's then connected to your anus, allowing you to poo normally

As the colon is removed, ulcerative colitis cannot come back again after surgery.

But it's important to consider the risks of surgery and the impact of having a permanent ileostomy or ileoanal pouch.

Your healthcare team will discuss the best option with you.

 Living with Ulcerative colitis 

There are some things you can do to help keep symptoms of ulcerative colitis under control and reduce your risk of complications.

Dietary advice

Most people with ulcerative colitis are recommended to follow a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids. This is to avoid dehydration and ensure you get all the nutrients you need.

A specific diet is not thought to play a role in causing ulcerative colitis. But some people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be recommended to make temporary changes to their diet after surgery, or to help control symptoms during a flare-up. For example:

• eating smaller meals more often, rather than 3 main meals
• eating a low-fibre diet
• taking food supplements

It's important to speak to your care team before making any changes to your diet.

Keep a food diary

Keeping a food diary that documents what you eat can also be helpful. 

You may find you can tolerate some foods, while others make your symptoms worse.

By keeping a record of what and when you eat, you should be able to identify problem foods and eliminate them from your diet.

But you should not eliminate entire food groups (such as dairy products) from your diet without speaking to your care team, as you may not get enough of certain vitamins and minerals.

If you want to try a new food, it's best to only try 1 type a day because it's then easier to spot foods that cause problems.

Stress relief

Although stress does not cause ulcerative colitis, successfully managing stress levels may reduce the frequency of symptoms.

The following advice may help:

• exercise – this has been proven to reduce stress and boost your mood; your GP or care team can advise on a suitable exercise plan
• relaxation techniques – breathing exercises, meditation and yoga are good ways of teaching yourself to relax
• communication – living with ulcerative colitis can be frustrating and isolating; talking to others with the condition can help

Emotional impact

Living with a long-term condition that's as unpredictable and potentially debilitating as ulcerative colitis can have a significant emotional impact.

In some cases, anxiety and stress caused by ulcerative colitis can lead to depression.

Signs of depression include feeling very down, hopeless and no longer taking pleasure in activities you used to enjoy.

If you think you might be depressed, contact your GP for advice.

You may also find it useful to talk to others affected by ulcerative colitis, either face-to-face or via the internet.

Bowel cancer screening

You have a higher risk of getting bowel cancer if you have ulcerative colitis.

It's recommended that you have regular bowel cancer screening so any cancer can be found early, which may mean it’s easier to treat. Bowel cancer screening for people with ulcerative colitis usually involves having a colonoscopy.

How often you need screening depends on your symptoms and how long you’ve had them. You can ask your doctor for advice.

Fertility

The chances of a woman with ulcerative colitis becoming pregnant are not usually affected by the condition.

But infertility can be a complication of surgery carried out to create an ileoanal pouch.

This risk is much lower if you have surgery to divert the small intestine through an opening in your abdomen (an ileostomy).

Pregnancy

The majority of women with ulcerative colitis who decide to have children will have a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby.

But if you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss it with your care team.

If you become pregnant during a flare-up or have a flare-up while pregnant, there's a risk you could give birth early (premature birth) or have a baby with a low birthweight.

For this reason, doctors usually recommend trying to get ulcerative colitis under control before getting pregnant.

Most ulcerative colitis medicines can be taken during pregnancy, including corticosteroids, most 5-ASAs and some types of immunosuppressant medicine.

But there are certain medicines, such as some types of immunosuppressant, that may need to be avoided as they're associated with an increased risk of birth defects.

In some cases, your doctors may advise you to take a medicine that's not normally recommended during pregnancy.

This might happen if they think the risks of having a flare-up outweigh the risks associated with the medicine.

 Complications Ulcerative colitis 

If you have ulcerative colitis, you could develop further problems.

Extra-intestinal manifestations

Around 1 in 3 people with ulcerative colitis will also develop inflammation in other parts of their body. This can lead to a range of symptoms that doctors call extra-intestinal manifestations, or extra-intestinal symptoms.

These include:

• pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints – which usually happens in larger joints, such as the ankles, knees, hips and wrist
• tender bumps can appear on the skin – usually on the arms and legs
• painful mouth ulcers
• eyes can become red, irritated and itchy

Osteoporosis

People with ulcerative colitis are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, when the bones become weak and are more likely to fracture.

Osteoporosis can happen due to a number of factors, such as side effects of steroid medicines and the body having problems absorbing the nutrients it needs for bone growth.

It can also be caused by the dietary changes someone with the condition may take, such as avoiding dairy products, if they believe it could be triggering their symptoms.

If you're thought to be at risk of osteoporosis, the health of your bones will be regularly monitored.

You may also be advised to take medicine or supplements of vitamin D and calcium to strengthen your bones.

Poor growth and development

Ulcerative colitis, and some of the treatments for it, can affect growth and delay puberty.

Children and young people with ulcerative colitis should have their height and body weight measured regularly by healthcare professionals.

This should be checked against average measurements for their age.

If there are problems with your child's growth or development, they may be referred to a paediatrician (a specialist in treating children and young people).

Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Some people with ulcerative colitis may also develop another digestive condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). PSC is where the bile ducts become progressively inflamed and damaged.

Bile ducts are small tubes used to transport bile (digestive juice) out of the liver and into the digestive system.

PSC does not usually cause symptoms until it's at an advanced stage.

Symptoms can include:

• fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• diarrhoea
• itchy skin
• weight loss
• chills
• a high temperature
• yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)

There's currently no specific treatment for PSC, although medicines can be used to relieve some of the symptoms, such as itchy skin.

In more severe cases, a liver transplant may be required.

Toxic megacolon

Toxic megacolon is a rare and serious complication of severe ulcerative colitis where inflammation in the colon causes gas to become trapped, resulting in the colon becoming enlarged and swollen.

This is potentially very dangerous as it can cause the colon to rupture (split) and cause infection in the blood (septicaemia).

The symptoms of a toxic megacolon include:

• tummy pain
• a high temperature
• a rapid heart rate

Toxic megacolon can be treated with fluids, antibiotics and steroids given directly into a vein (intravenously).

If medicines do not improve the conditions quickly, surgical removal of the colon (a colectomy) may be needed.

Treating symptoms of ulcerative colitis before they become severe can help prevent toxic megacolon.

Bowel cancer

People who have ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer (cancer of the colon, rectum or bowel), especially if the condition is severe or involves most of the colon.

The longer you have ulcerative colitis, the greater the risk.

People with ulcerative colitis are often unaware they have bowel cancer as the initial symptoms of this type of cancer are similar.

These include:

• blood in your poo
• diarrhoea
• abdominal pain

You'll usually have regular check-ups to look for signs of bowel cancer from about 10 years after your symptoms first develop.

Check-ups will involve examining your bowel with a colonoscope (a long, flexible tube containing a camera) that's inserted into your rectum – this is called a colonoscopy.

The frequency of the colonoscopy examinations will increase the longer you live with the condition, and will also depend on factors such as how severe your ulcerative colitis is and if you have a family history of bowel cancer.

This can vary between every 1 to 5 years.

To reduce the risk of bowel cancer, it's important to:

• eat a balanced diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
• take regular exercise
• maintain a healthy weight
• avoid alcohol and smoking

Taking aminosalicylates as prescribed can also help reduce your risk of bowel cancer.