Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum where there are multiple ulcers all throughout the colon and rectum .This leads to loss of absorption of water leading to diarrhea with stool frequency of 12-15 stools per day.
It’s mixed with blood and mucus in stools making life miserable for the patients.
It is found in adolescent and middle aged population leading to a  lot of issues like weight loss, anemia, loss of appetite, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and involvement of other organs of the body.
It is an autoimmune disease where our own cells produce antibodies against themselves leading to tissue destruction.

It is diagnosed best by colonoscopy which will show multiple ulcers throughout the colon, sometimes only left colon and rectum are involved  , sometimes whole length of colon along with rectum are involved.
Multiple colonic and rectal biopsies will prove the diagnosis.

There can be  other system involvement in the  form of uveitis involving the eyes, arthritis of joints, bile duct involvement leading to jaundice and multiple other diseases in long standing ulcerative colitis.

Treatment is aimed at healing the ulcers in colon and rectum with oral medicines which primarily involves 5 ASA agents like Mesacol, oral steroids, immunosuppressants like azathioprine, and local treatment in form of rectal mesacol suppository, rectal steroid enemas.
Subsidiary measures like correction of anemia, correction of vitamin deficiencies, elimination of vices like smoking ,improving dietary habits and improvement of overall general condition.

In severe cases where there is severe bleeding leading to severe anemia, complications in form of perforation, toxic megacolon, surgical measures may be needed.
Laparoscopic total proctocolectomy for removal of the diseased colon and rectum with ileo anal pouch will serve to eliminate the disease. The ileoanal J pouch will serve the function of the colon and rectum,  allowing passage of stools through anus with stool frequency of 4-5 stools per day ,.albeit with no blood or mucus in stools.

There will be a temporary stoma for passage of stools for 3 weeks post surgery to allow healing of ileoanal pouch , which will be closed after 3 weeks.
Patient will have all normal functions of the body post surgery, with no restriction or changes in dietary habits, will continue to lead a normal life and no further follow up medicines will be needed. The steroids and immunosuppressants will stop immediately after surgery avoiding the side effects associated with these medicines.

There will be no issues with regards to fertility, delivery through normal passage or fecal incontinence after surgery.

Ulcerative colitis needs to be treated in time to avoid complications associated with it later.