A lifelong digestive disorder, ulcerative colitis causes ulcers (swelling and sores) in the lining of your rectum and colon. Ulcerative colitis can be debilitating, painful, and cause bloody diarrhea. It may run in the family and affect anyone. In most cases, it starts when you are between the ages of 15 and 30 years old. If left untreated, ulcerative colitis can become life threatening or increase your risk of colon cancer.

The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are stomach pain and diarrhea with blood or pus. Other symptoms that may develop over time include:

• Anemia (low iron in the blood, due to severe bleeding)
• Fatigue/extreme tiredness
• Failure to grow (in children)
• Fever
• Inability to defecate despite urgency
• Joint pain
• Kidney stones
• Liver disorders
• Rashes
• Rectal pain
• Redness and swelling (inflammation) of the eyes
• Skin sores
• Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis)
• Weight loss without trying

Your symptoms depend on which part of your colon is inflamed, and how long you've had the condition. You may also stop experiencing symptoms for an extended period, as ulcerative colitis can come and go.

Why Choose UHealth?

Broad array of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Regardless of your age, condition, or whether you need long- or short-term digestive treatments, you will receive the most accurate diagnosis and most effective treatment to keep your stomach, digestive system, and organs healthy. We offer a broad array of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Motility lab for accurate diagnosis of GI conditions. The only facility of its kind in South Florida, our motility lab enables our GI specialists to provide accurate diagnoses of GI conditions more quickly and efficiently. We offer a variety of leading-edge services, such as hydrogen breath testing, anal-rectal manometry, and bio-feedback.