Q: I have recently been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The doctor said it is just a mild case and I will not need surgery at this stage. The illness causes me to suffer from stomach cramping, nausea, and diarrhea. What are the usual treatments for this disease and are there any new solutions?
A: Medical treatment for ulcerative colitis is designed to relieve symptoms such as you describe, heal the damaged and inflamed tissues, or ulcers, in the large intestine and keep the disease from flaring up again. It can postpone the need for surgery, but this is sometimes needed eventually.
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Ulcerative colitis is thought to be a relative of Crohn’s disease or inflammatory bowel disease. In Crohn’s disease, it is mainly the small intestines that are affected and this can be more serious because blockages can occur due to scarring and narrowing of the affected bowel. This is when surgery is required. In ulcerative colitis, which affects the large intestine, this is less likely to occur due to the larger diameter of the bowel.
No one is sure what causes ulcerative colitis, so there is nothing you can do to prevent it. Some people try special diets, but there is no substantial evidence that they make much difference to the course of the illness. Some foods, such as highly spiced ones, may be avoided because they cause more irritation to the bowel.
Treatment of mild cases of ulcerative colitis usually begins with aminosalicylates. As the name implies, these are relatives of ASA, but do not take regular Aspirin because this will tend to increase any bleeding you already have. Ibuprofen has been linked to flare-ups of the disease. Should you need simple pain relief, then Tylenol is your drug of choice.
If your symptoms persist, you may need a course of corticosteroids, although due to the severe side effects this should be avoided if at all possible. Other medications involve drugs that suppress the immune system.
Research by George Macfarlane at Dundee University in Scotland has looked into the high rate of ulcerative colitis in the northeast part of that country.
Researchers found that a certain type of friendly bacteria that lives in the bowel of most people was less present in those with ulcerative colitis. They found that these bacteria had an anti-inflammatory effect and also stimulated the immune system. According to these scientists, these bacteria may also have some anti-cancer properties.
As a result, they began to develop a probiotic mixture with carbohydrate, which they fed to a group of volunteers suffering from ulcerative colitis for a period of four weeks. The trial results showed a dramatic improvement in symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Patients became almost normal, and there did not appear to be any side effects from the treatment. The work is ongoing and is being funded by the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
4-H names winning western leaders
Canadian 4-H Council News release
news
The 9,500 leaders of 4-H clubs across Canada were honoured for their dedication in the fourth volunteer leader of the year award.
Alex Dixon, of Cornwall, P.E.I., was named the national leader of the year for his 23 years of work with youth.
“The contribution of these leaders is immeasurable, both in terms of the impact in their community and in the lives of individual youth.
This award reflects the outstanding work being performed by thousands of volunteers every day across this country in the 4-H program,” said George Klosler, president of Canadian 4-H Council.
Ten provincial winners were declared, and from these a national winner was selected. The western Canadian leader winners are:
Sue Boulton – Gabriola, B.C.
Dixie Crowson – Vauxhall, Alta.
Jill Rennie – Prince Albert, Sask.
Arline Davey – Westbourne, Man.
4-H has more than 2,500 active clubs from coast to coast.
