Nonspecific ulcerative colitis: causes, symptoms, and treatment

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis( NNC) is a disease in which it is inflamed and ulceratedMucous membrane of the large intestine. As a rule, the pathological process is chronic with periodic exacerbations.

Treatment of ulcerative colitis for a long time, often prolonged for several years, requires joint efforts of the doctor and the patient. To eliminate the disease, both traditional methods are used, based on the use of medicines, and folk. In severe cases, surgery is performed. Nonspecific ulcerative colitis most often affects people from 20 to 40 years, in children, it is less common( about 10% of cases).

Causes and mechanisms of the disease

The causes of nonspecific ulcerative colitis have not yet been fully elucidated.

According to the assumptions of the researchers, the following factors can provoke it:

• the spread of infection in the large intestine;
• improper diet, predominance of fatty, high-calorie foods with low fiber content;
• hereditary predisposition, gene mutations;
• long-term use of certain medicines, for example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• frequent stressful situations, intense emotions;
• intestinal microflora disorders.

As a result of these factors, immune agents begin to attack non-pathogenic bacteria and viruses, and the mucous membrane of the large intestine. It becomes inflamed and ulcers are formed.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have similar developmental mechanisms. Differences - in the depth and breadth of lesions. In the first case, the disease only covers the large intestine, ulcers and inflammation spread in the mucosa and submucosal layer.

In Crohn's disease, the entire digestive tract is involved in the pathological process: from the oral cavity to the anus. At the same time, all layers of the digestive tract are captured.

Classification of

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is classified by the localization of the pathological process:

• proctitis and proctosigmoiditis - the disease covers the rectum and sigmoid colon;
• left-sided colitis - affects the straight and left half of the large intestine before the splenic flexure;
• total colitis - all parts of the large intestine are inflamed;
• Regional colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine and regional nodes of the lymphatic system.

In terms of severity, nonspecific ulcerative colitis can be mild when the stool is somewhat heavy, with a moderate diarrhea up to 8 times a day, a slight increase in temperature, severe diarrhea, a temperature above 38 ° C, and a worsening of the general condition.

Another variant of the classification of ulcerative colitis is based on the nature of its course. The disease can be acute, chronic and recurrent.

Symptoms of

Symptoms of nonspecific ulcerative colitis manifest themselves in different ways. Some people, already having a disease, feel good for several years, only occasionally they mark blood in the stool.

This attribute is either ignored or attempts are made to eliminate it by popular methods. In others, the disease begins acutely, with severe diarrhea, high fever, severe pain and general weakness. In such cases, the patient is urgently hospitalized.

For non-specific ulcerative colitis, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• feces with blood, the amount of which varies from barely noticeable veins to abundant currents;
• feces with mucus and pus;
• diarrhea;
• constipation, indicative of a lesion of the rectus and sigmoid colon;
• false desires for defecation, in which not feces come out, but blood, pus and mucus - "rectal spitting";
• nighttime urge to defecate;
• stool incontinence;
• increased gas production, flatulence;
• abdominal pain, more often in the left half and moderately expressed;
• signs of intoxication - fever, fever, vomiting, tachycardia, weight loss, dehydration, anorexia, general weakness;
• extraintestinal manifestations of ulcerative colitis -. Destruction of the joints, a rash on the skin and mucous membranes, visual disturbances, increased blood clots, abnormal liver function, etc.

last group of symptoms occurs in about 1 patient out of 10 times they appear to the major intestinal.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis consists of laboratory and instrumental methods. First, the doctor conducts a patient interview and a finger examination, then a list of necessary procedures is determined.

most commonly includes :

1. total and blood chemistry - determines the level of erythrocytes and hemoglobin, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the level of C-reactive protein.
2. Coprogram - a laboratory study of stool, which determines the content of blood, mucus, pus, parasites, etc. in it. This gives information on the degree of inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosa.
3. Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy - invasive instrumental methods of investigation that allow the doctor to see the condition of the intestinal mucosa and, if necessary, take the particles of the damaged tissue for laboratory examination( biopsy).
4. Irrigoscopy is an X-ray study of the large intestine with the introduction of contrast. The picture gives information about pathological changes in the organ.
5. Computed tomography is a radiographic examination with the output of images taken from different angles on the monitor. It is prescribed for suspected Crohn's disease.

colitis

Treatment Treatment of ulcerative colitis in exacerbation carried out in hospital conditions: requires administering drugs via intravenous injections and sometimes - powered by gavage. With the chronic form of the disease, all procedures can be carried out at home, combining traditional methods with folk.

Traditional methods

Non-surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis carried out using the following groups of drugs:

• having a composition of 5-acetylsalicylic acid in the form of tablets, capsules, and also rectal suppositories, foams and enemas( sulfasalazine, Mesakol, salofalk, Tidokol, pentasil, etc.);
• corticosteroids in the form of tablets, rectal and intravenous infusions( Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, etc.);
• immunosuppressors( Azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, Methotrexate, Infliximab, etc.).

Depending on the clinical picture, additional drugs can be prescribed to stop bleeding, eliminate dehydration and restore water-electrolyte balance, and healing of the intestinal mucosa. Symptomatic therapy is also performed if necessary: ​​antispasmodic, antipyretic, antidiarrheal or laxatives are prescribed.

If the inflammation is most strongly expressed in the lower parts of the colon, the more effective local products: candles, rectal drip, enemas and foam.

The use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and preparations with 5-acetylsalicylic acid should be strictly controlled by a physician. Only an expert can assess the appropriateness of using them in a specific clinical case.

Drugs of these groups can cause severe side effects, for example, bone marrow damage or hepatitis. Sometimes in the history of patients with ulcerative colitis, resistance to their effects or initial immunity is noted.

If conservative therapy is not effective, then surgical intervention is necessary.

In case of nonspecific colitis, the operation can be performed in one of three ways:

• palliative - the end of the intestine is displayed on the abdominal wall, a permanent or temporary fistula is formed;
• radical - intestinal segments are removed, then its integrity is restored;
• reconstructive - the intestine is removed and replaced with a prosthesis.

Can ulcerative colitis be cured for good? Conservative methods to eliminate the disease is difficult, but if you have the patience and strictly follow all the doctor's prescriptions, you can achieve a long-term stable remission.

Folk methods

Treatment of ulcerative colitis with folk remedies is used in chronic course, during periods of remission. Widely used herbal infusions and decoctions with a mild effect that envelops affected areas of the mucous membrane, promote the healing of ulcers and stop bleeding.

The following components can be used for the preparation of the drink:

• a mixture of raspberry, strawberry and currant leaves - supports the liver and restores the water-electrolyte balance;
• dried blueberry berries - cleanse the intestines from rotting substances, prevent the formation of cancer cells;
• leaves of nettle - increase blood clotting, eliminate inflammation;
• peppermint leaves - reduce spasms and inflammation, inhibit the reproduction of bacteria, soothe the nervous system;
• chamomile flowers - fight against microbes, reduce spasms and inflammation;
• yarrow herb - has bactericidal properties, eliminates diarrhea;
• pomegranate peel - stops diarrhea, relieves inflammation, prevents the reproduction of bacteria;
• leaves and stalks of cinquefoil - heal ulcers, stop diarrhea;
• celandine grass - reduces nervous tension, fights inflammation and spread of microbes;
• herb wormwood - cleanses the intestines from pathogenic microflora;
• the herb of St. John's wort - strengthens intestinal motility, eliminates purulent impurities in feces, reduces inflammation;
• cones alder - have astringent effect, heal wounds.

Each of these herbs can be used alone or mixed, making fees. Infusions and decoctions should be prepared according to the instructions on the package.

Complications of

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis can lead to the development of colorectal cancer. According to statistics, in patients with 10-year experience, the risk of oncology is increased by 2%, with 20-year-olds - by 8%, with 30-year-olds - by 18%.For this reason, regular intestinal examinations, including colonoscopy, and prevention of oncology are needed.

Another complication of nonspecific ulcerative colitis is a toxic megacolon. With this disease, the loops of the intestine swell and expand. Absence of treatment leads to rupture of the wall, inflammation of the peritoneum - peritonitis, and then general infection of the blood - sepsis.

Consequences of

Consequences of nonspecific ulcerative colitis are associated with its extraintestinal manifestations. In the large intestine, autoimmune reactions are activated. Sometimes they spread to other organs, causing damage to the eyes, skin, joints, mouth mucosa, circulatory system, liver. In part, foreign agents( toxins, allergens, etc.) participate in their formation.

In case of nonspecific ulcerative colitis,

• erythema nodosum can develop;
• gangrenous pyoderma;
• episcleritis;
• arthropathy;
• ankylosing spondylitis;
• hepatomegaly.

Preventive maintenance of pathology

It is impossible to prevent the development of ulcerative colitis, since the reasons for its development are unknown.

But it is possible to take measures that will reduce the frequency of exacerbations and will contribute to long-term remission:

• take regular medications prescribed by your doctor;
• comply with the therapeutic diet;
• undergo preventive examinations, according to schedule;
• as an anesthetic to take Acetaminophen, Efferalgan, Paracetamol, to abandon non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs( Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc.).

It should also be remembered that antibiotics contribute to exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. You can take them only as a last resort, as prescribed by the doctor.

Diet

Nutrition with nonspecific ulcerative colitis of the intestine should be gentle, not irritating the mucous membrane. The diet is based on the use of foods high in protein and vitamins.

When the disease worsens, the requirements are particularly severe: fruits, vegetables, any sharp, salty, acidic, smoked and fatty foods are forbidden. Products that cause fermentation are excluded: milk, fresh pastries, legumes. The diet consists of cereal broths, pomegranate juice, kissels, viscous boiled porridges.

When the acute period of the disease is completed, in the menu you can enter boiled and stewed vegetables, fruits, dishes from twisted meat, soft fish. You can also eat curd mass, sour-milk drinks, puddings.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is a disease in which the mucous membrane of the large intestine becomes inflamed and ulcerated( sometimes the submucosa).As a rule, the pathology proceeds in a chronic form with attacks of exacerbations.

Treatment is conservative, prolonged, with its ineffectiveness, surgery is performed. Prevent nonspecific ulcerative colitis is impossible, because its causes are not established, but if the diet and recommendations of a doctor are observed, it is possible to reduce the frequency of relapses.

Author: Olga Khanova, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru

Useful video about nonspecific ulcerative colitis