Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon and rectum. It causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine.
Common symptoms
Symptoms can include bloody diarrhea, urgency, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, and anemia. Symptoms may flare, improve, and flare again.
How it differs from Crohn's disease
Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum, while Crohn's disease can affect different parts of the digestive tract and deeper layers of tissue.
Blood in stool, dehydration, severe pain, fever, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional.