Types of ulcerative colitis
Types of ulcerative colitis depends on the site of the inflammation. Doctors classified ulcerative colitis into the following types:
- Ulcerative proctitis: This type only affects the rectum, and the rectal bleeding may be the only sign of this type. It is the mildest form of ulcerative colitis.
- Proctosigmoiditis: This type affects the rectum and sigmoid colon (the lower end of the colon). The manifestations of this type include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and tenesmus (urgency to defecate with the inability to defecate despite this urgency).
- Left-sided colitis: This type affects the rectum, sigmoid colon, and left part of the colon (descending colon). This type shows left-sided abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss.
- Acute severe ulcerative colitis: It is a rare type of ulcerative colitis, and it causes fever, severe abdominal pain, bleeding, profuse diarrhea, and nausea.
- Pancolitis: This type affects the whole colon. It causes severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, fatigue, and significant weight loss.
Also, we can classify ulcerative colitis according to its severity into the mild, moderate, severe, and fulminant, as follows:
- Mild ulcerative colitis means defecation at a rate lower than four times daily. Also, it may show mild abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. Signs of toxicity, such as fever and weight loss, don’t occur in this type. Also, inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP) are within a healthy range.
- Moderate ulcerative colitis means defecation at a rate higher than four times daily. The signs of toxicity are minimal in this type. This type shows low-grade fever (37.2:38.5 degrees), moderate abdominal pain, and anemia that doesn’t need a blood transfusion.
- Severe ulcerative colitis means defecation at a rate higher than six times daily. This type also shows bloody stools and toxicity signs, such as fever, anemia, tachycardia, and high levels of inflammatory markers.
- Fulminant ulcerative colitis is a life-threatening condition. It shows defecation at a rate higher than ten times daily, abdominal pain and tenderness, abdominal distension, and toxicity signs. It also exhibits continuous bleeding that requires a blood transfusion to compensate for the blood loss. It may cause toxic megacolon and bowel perforation, which are fatal conditions.
