The Available Ulcerative Colitis Treatments

There are many ulcerative colitis treatments available today. Both medications and surgery are used to treat this disease. The choice of treatment for ulcerative colitis depends largely on the severity of the disease. So, it varies from person to person

Those with mild or moderate symptoms generally use medications or alternative therapies, though there are no medicines that cure the disease completely.

Medications include immunomodulators and anti inflammatory agents. Aminosalicylate is one medicine which has been used for over 30 years. The medication is typically prescribed to prevent the recurring symptoms and flare-ups of the disease, consequently enabling the patients to avoid surgery. Massage therapies, acupuncture, following a specific diet are also helpful for those who suffer from the disease. Doctors also advise the patients to avoid products containing caffeine and alcohol as they worsen the symptoms.

Surgery is reserved for severe cases when all medications fail to cure. In about 25 to 40 cases, surgery becomes necessary. Due to some complications, such as massive bleeding, rupture of the colon, high fever, or risk of cancer, surgery becomes unavoidable. Surgery usually involves removing the entire colon and the rectum which is the only absolute cure of ulcerative colitis.

For many years, the surgery has been performed with a procedure called Ileostomy. An Ileostomy is performed after colon, rectum and anus have been removed. It involves bringing the end of the small intestine (ileum) through a hole (stoma) in the abdominal wall, allowing the drainage of intestinal waste out of the body. The new ileoanal pouch allows the stool to pass through the anus.

However, surgery is not suitable for everyone. Apart from the severity of the disease, it depends on the patients need, expectations and lifestyle as well.

Before going for the treatment, one should also know about the details of the disease. Ulcerative Colitis commonly begins in adolescents, occurring less frequently in later age. It affects men and women equally and appears to run in families. About two million of the total population in the United States suffers from this disease. It is commonly found in the United States and Europe and rarely found in Asia and South America.

Despite the ongoing and active research, the cause of the disease has not been detected yet. Many theories exist about the cause of the disease but they fail to prove if the disease is contagious or caused by an infection. It is believed that the disease is caused by the abnormal activation of the immune system in the intestines and becomes worse if the stress to live with Ulcerative Colitis persists.

Researchers are studying to verify the cause of the disease. The research in Ulcerative Colitis is an ongoing and active process. Through this understanding, newer and safer ulcerative colitis treatments are being developed. Moreover, the ongoing clinical trials provide a ray of hope for the depressed and the dejected patients.