Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in
which the inner lining of the large intestine (colon or bowel)
and rectum become inflamed. Inflammation usually begins in the
rectum and lower (sigmoid) intestine and spreads upward to the
entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small
intestine, except for the lower section, the ileum. The
inflammation causes diarrhea, or frequent emptying of the colon.
As cells on the surface of the lining of the colon die and
slough off, ulcers (open sores) form and may cause the discharge
of pus and mucus, in addition to bleeding. Although children and
older people sometimes develop ulcerative colitis, it most often
starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It affects males and
females equally and appears to run in some families. Ulcerative
colitis requires long-term medical care. There may be remissions
--periods when the symptoms go away--that last for months or
even years. However, symptoms eventually return. Only in rare
cases, when complications occur