Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (you may hear it called IBD). It causes inflammation and ulceration of the large intestine and rectum (where stools are held before being released). The large intestine has a delicate lining and ulcers can form along it, which can cause bleeding and pus. Severity of symptoms will vary person to person but the main symptoms are diarrhoea (you may see blood, mucus of puss), stomach pain, frequent trips to the loo, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss and anaemia. Other symptoms are also associated with UC – visit the links below for more information. It is an ongoing condition but symptoms can be managed with medication and in some cases, surgery.
Seek help from your doctor if you are experiencing gut symptoms.