Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Ulcerative Colitis

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Commonly, the first symptom of colitis is a progressive loosening of stool, or diarrhea. The stool may be bloody and may occur with abdominal pain, cramps and a severe urgency to have a bowel movement. Skin lesions and pain in the joints also may occur. Colitis can be associated with problems such as:

• Arthritis
• Inflammation of the eye
• Liver disease such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Osteoporosis
• Skin rashes
• Anemia

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 14, 2008