Ambulance 912HAP 9252
Back to all symptoms and conditions
General health information

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is chronic inflammation of the innermost lining of the large bowel. It causes periods of symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea, urgency, abdominal pain and tiredness, alternating with quieter periods. Treatment reduces inflammation, prevents complications and requires regular check-ups.

In this article
Choose which sections to read

  • Ulcerative colitis is a long-term inflammatory disease of the rectum and large bowel, with active flare-ups and quieter periods.
  • Bloody diarrhoea, strong urgency, mucus, abdominal cramps and tiredness are typical, but severity and extent vary between people.
  • Stool and blood tests, endoscopy and tissue examination help establish the diagnosis and rule out infection.
  • Medicines may control a flare-up and prevent new ones; surgery is sometimes needed.
  • A rapid increase in blood, diarrhoea, fever, heart rate, dehydration or abdominal pain needs medical assessment the same day.
  • Even in a quiet period, monitoring, medicine safety and sometimes bowel examination are important.

Your response

Two anonymous questions

Did you find what you were looking for?

Do you now have a clearer idea of your next step?

Share article

Email

Do you need a healthcare provider after reading?

Search by type of care, organisation, name or district.

Further reading

Browse A–Z
C
Crohn’s diseaseCrohn’s disease is chronic immune-mediated inflammation that can affect any part from the mouth to the anus, often causing abdominal pain, diarrhoea, tiredness and weight loss. Treatment suppresses inflammation and prevents damage; severe pain with a swollen abdomen, heavy bleeding, sepsis or a painful lump around the anus requires urgent care.
I
Inflammation of the rectumWith inflammation of the rectum, the last part of the large bowel is irritated and inflamed. Possible symptoms include an urge to pass stool, pain, mucus, diarrhoea and bleeding. Assessment is needed because infections, bowel diseases and radiotherapy each require different treatment.
E
Endometritis after childbirthInflammation of the womb lining after childbirth is a bacterial infection in the womb. Fever, increasing lower abdominal pain, feeling unwell or unpleasant-smelling postnatal discharge needs medical assessment the same day, because prompt treatment prevents complications.