5 Main Types of Ulcerative Colitis

5 Main Types of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a type of IBD, which usually affects your colon and small intestine. It generally causes sores and inflammation on the inner linings of your large intestine. To treat this condition, doctors usually ask patients to consume certain medications. However, if you want to live a proper and healthy life, then you would also have to follow some dietary tips for ulcerative colitis.

The doctors usually categorize ulcerative colitis into five different types. Here is what you should know about them.

Pancolitis
Known as one of the severe types of UC, pancolitis can generally affect almost every part of your colon. The symptoms of pancolitis generally include several bouts of diarrhea with blood or pus.

Aside from that, this type of UC also causes acute and persistent abdominal cramps, which only subdue after a bowel movement. Due to the significant amount of blood loss, you might also experience fatigue and lose a lot of body mass. Unlike the other forms of UC, pancolitis can be treated successfully. However, for that, you would have to take your medications on time and follow all the dietary tips for ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative proctitis
Unlike pancolitis, ulcerative proctitis usually causes inflammation in the rectum. Therefore, most times, the symptoms of this condition include severe rectal bleeding, which mainly occurs during a bowel movement. If you are suffering from this condition, then you might also experience mild rectal pain. The symptoms of ulcerative proctitis are known to be quite mild. Therefore, with only a few medications and by following the dietary tips for ulcerative colitis properly, you will be able to subdue its symptoms.

Acute severe UC
It is one of the rarest types of UC, which usually affects the entire large intestine and causes intense abdominal pain and flatulence. If you are suffering from this condition, then you might also experience profuse diarrhea, acute bleeding, and a high fever. As its name suggests, the symptoms of acute severe UC generally occur suddenly. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of the previously-mentioned symptoms, then try to go to your doctor quickly.

Left-sided colitis
Left-sided colitis usually causes inflammation on the rectum and left portion of your colon. Symptoms of this type of UC generally include abdominal cramps, weight loss, and bloody diarrhea. However, with this form of colitis, the pain from the cramps usually occurs on the left side of your abdomen. Like ulcerative proctitis, the symptoms of left-sided colitis, too, generally do not cause severe symptoms. Therefore, if you want to subdue the symptoms of this UC, you can also follow the dietary tips for ulcerative colitis along with taking medications.

Proctosigmoiditis
As the name suggests, proctosigmoiditis usually causes ulcers and inflammation in your sigmoid colon. Symptoms and signs of the disease usually include diarrhea with blood or pus, severe abdominal pain, and weight loss.

So, if you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, then going to your doctor would be a great idea.