New methods of treatment nyak. Ulcerative colitis of the intestine - what is it, causes, symptoms, treatment and proper diet. Modern aspects of the treatment of nonspecific ulcerative colitis

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is one of the most mysterious gastroenterological diseases. The exact causes of its development have not yet been determined, but effective methods of treatment that maximize the quality of life of a chronic patient have already been developed.

With nonspecific ulcerative colitis, the mucous membrane of the large intestine suffers. It becomes inflamed, causing severe pain to the patient. Unlike viral or infectious diseases, when the pathogen enters the body from the outside, NUC is an autoimmune pathology. It originates inside the body, with a certain failure of the immune system, the exact nature of which has not yet been determined. Accordingly, there is no way to develop preventive measures that guarantee 100% protection against NUC. There are only theories that allow us to talk about risk factors:

Genetic. Statistics revealed that the disease is characterized by a family predisposition.
Infectious. Some experts suggest that UC occurs as a result of the body's reaction to the action of certain bacteria, which under normal conditions are non-pathogenic (safe). What exactly contributes to the modification of bacteria into pathogens is not yet clear.
Immune. According to this theory, UC occurs as an allergic reaction to certain components in the composition of foods. During this reaction, the mucosa produces a special antigen that enters into a "confrontation" with the natural intestinal microflora.
Emotional. A less common theory is that UC develops against the background of prolonged deep stress.

The diagnosis of "nonspecific ulcerative colitis" is rapidly getting younger. More than 70% of cases, according to statistics of the last twenty years, are teenagers and people under 30 years old. Senior citizens suffer from ulcerative colitis much less frequently. According to the latest statistics, the incidence is 1 case in about 14 thousand people.

Is it possible to heal permanently?

This question worries many who hear their diagnosis for the first time. Unfortunately, no doctor who calls himself a professional can guarantee a cure. The fact is that NUC is a chronic disease, which means that the disease can only be “healed”, but not completely eliminated. Colitis is characterized by a cyclic course, that is, relapses (periods of exacerbation) alternate with months of stagnation, when the disease almost does not manifest itself. The goal of therapy for NUC is to delay the onset of relapse as much as possible, and when it occurs, to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Some patients, having learned their diagnosis, panic, believing that they will have to spend the rest of their lives on a strict diet. Meanwhile, the emotional state of the patient is an important factor determining the success of therapy. Therefore, you should never give up. Strict dietary restrictions are necessary only in the acute phase of the disease; during periods of remission, the diet is much softer.

Ways of treatment

The search for effective methods of treating NUC has been going on since the 80s of the last century. Currently, the best results have been achieved with an integrated approach to therapy, combining different ways of treatment:

taking medications;
diet;
psycho-emotional correction.

Surgical treatment of UC is also practiced, but in recent years there has been a tendency to replace surgical therapy with conservative one.

The treatment plan is developed based on the individual characteristics of the organism (gender, age, presence of other chronic ailments, etc.). Therapy of NUC according to the general scheme has long proved to be ineffective. Therefore, before prescribing certain drugs or surgery, the patient must undergo a long examination.

If it is impossible to completely cure, the therapy of nonspecific ulcerative colitis sets itself the following tasks:

reduction of symptoms of the disease;
relapse prevention;
improving the quality of life.

Video - Nonspecific ulcerative colitis: symptoms and treatment

Drug therapy for NUC

The main group of drugs prescribed for the treatment of ulcerative colitis are anti-inflammatory drugs. Their goal is to stop the inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the large intestine.

An analysis of the effectiveness of a particular anti-inflammatory agent is carried out within a week from the moment of administration. If stabilization of the patient's condition is not observed, the drug is replaced with another one.

Reducing inflammation of the mucosa is the main, but not the only task that the UC treatment plan should solve. In addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, the attending physician may prescribe medications from the following groups:

Depending on the form of the course of the disease and individual sensitivity to individual drugs, the gastroenterologist can prescribe both all of the above drugs and drugs of 1-2 groups.

When is surgery needed?

Currently, surgical intervention is prescribed in 10-15% of all cases of UC. At the beginning of the 2000s, this figure was at least twice as high. The operation is recommended in extreme cases, when conservative treatment has failed and the patient's condition worsens. Against the background of UC, a malignant tumor of the intestine (colorectal cancer) can develop. Then the operation is necessary already to save the patient's life, and not to improve its quality.

The following types of surgery are currently practiced:

The choice of one or another method of surgical intervention, as in the case of conservative treatment, depends on the patient's condition and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Features of the diet for NUC

Nutrition for ulcerative colitis involves strict control of the balance of nutrients in consumed foods. Exceeding the norm of carbohydrates or fats during remission can lead to relapse. Therefore, visits to a nutritionist who will adjust the menu during different cycles of illness are mandatory.

With NUC, it is recommended to completely remove foods containing coarse fiber or milk protein from the diet. Flour increases intestinal peristalsis, which, with inflammation of the mucous membranes, is fraught with sharp paroxysmal pain. As for the ban on dairy products, it is due to the increased sensitivity of the body to the protein contained in them. If in healthy people the allergy to this protein is suppressed by the immune system, then in UC the body cannot cope with this task. Also under the ban are sweets with a high content of lactose (chocolate, sweets, various syrups, etc.). The consumption of vegetables and fruits during the period of exacerbation should be minimized. Baked apples and pears are allowed only with stable remission, it is better to exclude citrus fruits altogether.

The basis of the diet of a patient with nonspecific colitis during the acute phase should be cereals and broths. Meat and fish are allowed only boiled or steamed, without a crust. Of the side dishes, in addition to cereals, mashed potatoes of a soft consistency are recommended. Eggs are also allowed, but only in the form of a steam omelette.

The main principle of the formation of the menu during the period of remission is to assess the body's reaction to the addition of a particular product. Diet correction is carried out only under the supervision of a gastroenterologist.

A properly selected treatment regimen for NUC and dietary compliance provide a stable, long-term remission, in which dietary restrictions are minimized. The example of thousands of patients has shown that it is possible to lead a bright, fulfilling life with ulcerative colitis, the quality of which depends primarily on the desire to comply with the treatment plan.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is a rare and not fully understood pathology. Some consider genetic predisposition as the main reason, others - the influence of external factors, including alcohol, smoking, stress and malnutrition. We will not dwell on the causes of the disease for a long time - this publication is devoted to such an issue as the treatment of ulcerative colitis with medications and folk remedies.

What is ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine, which is part of the digestive system where water is removed from undigested food, leaving behind digestive waste. The large intestine ends in the rectum, which, in turn, passes into the anus. In patients with ulcerative colitis, the lining of the intestine becomes inflamed, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Next, we will talk about the features of the disease of nonspecific ulcerative colitis, the symptoms, the treatment of which will be discussed in detail.

Ulcerative colitis is often associated with an inflammatory disease such as Crohn's disease. Together, these two ailments can be combined under the concept of inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis, along with Crohn's disease, are chronic diseases that can last for years or decades. Men and women suffer equally. The development of pathology most often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, but there are also cases of this disease in young children.

Very often, residents of Europe and America, as well as people of Jewish origin, are diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The population of Asian countries and representatives of the Negroid race are more fortunate in this regard - their pathology is extremely rare. For unknown reasons, an increased frequency of this disease has recently been observed in developing countries. There is also a high likelihood of colitis in those whose relatives are familiar with such a diagnosis.

What are the causes of ulcerative colitis

Reliable factors for the development of colitis have not been identified, and at present there is no convincing evidence that this is an infectious disease. Most experts are inclined to believe that ulcerative colitis occurs due to impaired functioning of the immune system in the intestine. In this case, abnormal activation of immune cells and proteins occurs, the activity of which leads to inflammation. The predisposition to abnormal immune activation is inherited genetically. Research scientists have found about 30 genes that can increase the likelihood of developing colitis. Read more about ulcerative colitis of the intestine, symptoms, treatment of the disease.

Symptoms of the disease

How does ulcerative colitis present? Treatment of the disease is primarily determined by its type. Common symptoms of ulcerative colitis include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. But besides these symptoms, there is a wide range of other manifestations of the disease. The variability of manifestations reflects differences in the degree of development of the disease, which are classified depending on the location and severity of inflammation:

Ulcerative proctitis is limited to the rectum, and mild rectal bleeding may be the only symptom. More severe lesions are accompanied by sudden uncontrollable diarrhea and tenesmus - a false urge to defecate due to muscle contractions of the intestine.
Proctosigmoiditis is a combination of inflammation of the rectum and sigmoid colon, symptoms include sudden diarrhea, tenesmus, and rectal bleeding. Some patients have bloody stools and seizures.
Left-sided colitis is localized in the rectum and spreads up the left side of the colon (to the sigmoid and descending), manifested by bloody diarrhea, a sharp decrease in weight, pain in the abdomen.
Pancolitis, or universal colitis, involves the entire colon and symptoms include abdominal cramps and pain, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, fever, rectal bleeding, and diarrhea. This type of ulcerative colitis is much more difficult to treat.
Fulminant colitis is a very rare and most severe form of the disease. Patients suffer from severe dehydration due to chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and often shock. This form of colitis is treated with intravenous drugs, and in some cases it may be necessary to surgically remove the affected part of the colon to prevent it from rupturing.

Most often, any of the listed forms of colitis remains localized in the same part of the intestine, it rarely happens that one passes into another, for example, ulcerative proctitis can develop into left-sided colitis.

Diagnostics

The primary diagnosis is made on the basis of complaints and symptoms - bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain. In addition, laboratory studies are carried out:

Scientific studies also indicate that the presence of the protein calprotectin in the feces can be considered as a sign of the development of ulcerative colitis. Currently, new diagnostic diagnostic methods are used:

video capsule endoscopy;
CT scan;
MRI enterography.

Therapy Methods

Treatment for ulcerative colitis includes medical and surgical methods. Surgery is indicated for severe forms of colitis and life-threatening complications. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission, which can last from several months to several years. The main symptoms of the disease appear during relapses. Relief most often occurs as a result of treatment, sometimes exacerbations can go away on their own, without outside intervention.

Medical therapy

Since ulcerative colitis cannot be completely cured with drugs, their use has the following goals:

overcoming relapses;
maintenance of remissions;
minimizing side effects from treatment;
improving the quality of life;
reducing the risk of developing cancer.

Medicines are divided into two large groups:

anti-inflammatory agents, in particular corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, 5-ASA compounds;
immunomodulators, for example, Methotrexate, Cyclosporine, Azathioprine.

5-ASA preparations

5-aminosalicylic acid, or "Mesalamine", is a drug similar in chemical structure to aspirin, which has long been used to treat arthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis. However, unlike 5-ASA, aspirin is not effective against ulcerative colitis. The drug "Mesalamine" can be delivered directly to the site of inflammation with the help of an enema, but taking the drug inside is more effective. Initially, physicians had a problem - with oral administration of the drug, most of the active substance is absorbed when passing through the stomach and upper part of the small intestine before it reaches the large intestine. Therefore, to increase its effectiveness, 5-aminosalicylic acid has been modified into chemical forms that remain stable before entering the lower digestive system.

As a result, the following preparations were obtained:

"Sulfasalazine" - a stable structure of two molecules of 5-aminosalicylic acid, has been successfully used for many years in inducing remission in patients with mild to moderate colitis, reduces inflammation, abdominal pain and bleeding. Side effects include heartburn, nausea, anemia, and a temporary decrease in sperm count in men.
"Mesalamine" is a modification of 5-ASA, consisting of an active substance coated with a protective thin shell of acrylic resin. The drug passes through the stomach and small intestine without damage, and when it reaches the ileum and colon, it dissolves, releasing 5-ASA. This drug is also known as Asacol, it is recommended to take it according to the following scheme - to eliminate exacerbations, 800 mg three times a day, and to maintain remission - 800 mg twice a day. If Mesalamine is ineffective, then corticosteroids are prescribed.
"Olsalazin", or "Dipentum" is a modification of 5-ASA, in which the molecules of the active substance are connected to one inert molecule, which also allows you to reach the focus of inflammation.

It is worth listing other derivatives of 5-aminosalicylic acid, which are used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis:

Balsalazid, or Colazal.
"Pentaza".
enema and suppositories "Rovaz".
Lialda.

Corticosteroids

These compounds have been used for many years to treat patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Unlike 5-aminosalicylic acid, corticosteroids do not require direct contact with inflamed intestinal tissues to be effective. These are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that are taken orally. Once in the blood, they have a therapeutic effect on the entire body. Treatment of ulcerative colitis with these drugs is very effective. In critically ill patients, corticosteroids are given intravenously (eg, hydrocortisone). These compounds act faster than 5-ASA and the patient usually improves within a few days. If the patient has ulcerative colitis, these drugs are used only to overcome relapses of the disease, they are not used as maintenance of remissions.

Side effects of corticosteroids

They depend on the dose and duration of administration. Short courses of treatment with Prednisolone are well tolerated and have virtually no side effects. With long-term use of high doses of corticosteroids, some complications, including serious ones, may develop. Among them:

rounding the oval of the face;
the appearance of acne;
increase in the amount of hair on the body;
diabetes;
weight gain;
hypertension;
cataract;
increased susceptibility to infections;
depression, insomnia;
muscle weakness;
glaucoma;
mood swings, irritability;
osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones.

The most dangerous complications of taking corticosteroids include aseptic necrosis of the hip joints and a decrease in the ability of the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. In a disease such as ulcerative colitis, treatment with corticosteroids requires extreme caution and medical supervision. These drugs should only be used for the shortest amount of time. Treatment usually begins with the appointment of Prednisolone at a dosage of up to 60 mg per day. As soon as the condition begins to improve, the amount of the drug is gradually reduced by 5-10 mg per week and stopped. The use of corticosteroids must necessarily be accompanied by an increase in the calcium content in food and the intake of preparations of this element. This is necessary to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Attention! Corticosteroids should be taken as directed and under the supervision of a physician. Self-medication with these drugs can lead to irreversible consequences.

Of the modern corticosteroids, drugs such as Budesonide and Golimumab can be distinguished.

Immunomodulators

These are drugs that weaken the body's immune system and stop the activation of immunity, leading to the development of ulcerative colitis. Usually, the immune system is activated when pathogens enter the body, an infection. But in the case of colitis or Crohn's disease, body tissues and beneficial microorganisms become the object of immune cells. Immunomodulators reduce the intensity of tissue inflammation by reducing the population of immune cells and disrupting their production of proteins. In general, the benefits of using such drugs in the treatment of ulcerative colitis outweigh the risk of infection due to a weakened immune system.

Examples of immunomodulators:

Azathioprine and Purinethol reduce the activity of leukocytes. In high doses, these two drugs are used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and in the treatment of leukemia. In low doses, they are successfully used as a therapy for a disease such as ulcerative colitis. Treatment, reviews of which can be read on clinic websites and medical forums, in most cases is effective.
"Methotrexate" combines anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Used in the treatment of psoriasis and arthritis, effective against ulcerative colitis. A side effect is the development of cirrhosis of the liver, especially in patients who abuse alcohol, as well as pneumonia. In addition, the drug should not be used during pregnancy.
Cyclosporine, or Sandimmun, is a powerful immunosuppressant that is effective for quickly controlling the development of severe colitis or delaying surgery. Side effect - increased blood pressure, convulsions, impaired renal function.
Infliximab, or Remicade, is a protein that acts as an antibody against proteins produced by immune cells. It is used to treat colitis and Crohn's disease if corticosteroids and immunomodulators have been ineffective.

Surgery

Surgery for ulcerative colitis usually involves removal of the colon and rectum. This procedure also eliminates the risk of developing cancer in these parts of the digestive system. Surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis is indicated for the following groups of patients:

patients with fulminant colitis and toxic megacolon (widening of the colon wall);
people with pancolitis and left-sided colitis who are on the verge of developing colon cancer;
patients who have experienced many relapses over the years, refractory to treatment.

Recently, an innovation has been introduced that involves replacing the removed colon with a cover made from the intestine. It serves as a reservoir similar to the rectum and is emptied regularly through a small tube. This operation is called an ileostomy.

Ulcerative colitis: treatment, diet

It is likely that a special diet may benefit patients with ulcerative colitis. However, there is no evidence to support that treatment for ulcerative colitis is more effective with dietary changes. Despite extensive research, no single diet has been shown to slow the progression of the disease. In this regard, general recommendations can be made based on a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, cereals, lean meats, nuts, and fish. Patients should limit their intake of saturated fats. During an exacerbation, grated soft foods are recommended to minimize discomfort. Further you can read about the alternative treatment of ulcerative colitis.

ethnoscience

The main methods used in the treatment of a disease such as ulcerative colitis are discussed above. Alternative treatment of the disease acts more as a supportive one. In the arsenal of natural remedies there are honey, seeds, leaves and roots of plants, vegetables. If you have ulcerative colitis, herbal treatment may be helpful and reduce inflammation. Below you can find some traditional medicine recipes used for colitis.

Mix dried chamomile, yarrow and sage flowers in equal parts. 3 art. l. Pour the mixture with a liter of hot boiled water and let it brew for 4-5 hours. Take according to Art. spoon 7 times a day for a month, then reduce the dose to 4 times a day. The tool is considered a good prevention of exacerbations of colitis.

Traditional healers advise for ulcerative colitis of the intestine to reinforce the treatment with the use of potato juice. Grate the peeled tubers and squeeze the juice. Drink half a glass half an hour before meals.

A decoction of strawberry or bird cherry leaves, linden tea, an infusion of calendula flowers, herbal preparations, parsley root - whole volumes can be written about natural remedies for such an ailment as ulcerative colitis. Treatment, reviews of the results of which can be read in magazines and newspapers such as "Healthy Lifestyle", cannot replace the one prescribed by the doctor. No matter how varied and touted folk recipes are, they cannot be considered as the main treatment. Do not forget that the treatment of ulcerative colitis with folk remedies is only a measure that can accompany the main methods of therapy. Also, check with your doctor before using any prescription.

Treatment of ulcerative colitis with folk remedies is the most effective way to help with this disease. Tinctures prepared on the basis of herbs and medicinal plants for ulcerative colitis are recommended not only by traditional healers, but also by many gastroenterologists.

Ulcerative colitis of the intestine is an autoimmune disease, a pathological process that develops due to the presence of trigger factors for mucosal damage: long-term medication, acidity disorders, malnutrition, bad habits, etc.

But if you turn to a gastroenterologist in time, who will prescribe a course of drug therapy and recommend traditional medicine, you can forget about exacerbations for a long time.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis (NUC) is a complex gastrointestinal disease characterized by damage to the colonic mucosa of an autoimmune nature and manifested by weight loss, chills, pain, and bleeding in the intestines. If therapy is not started or started out of time, the disease acquires a chronically relapsing (with constant exacerbations) course, which is very difficult to treat.

After periods of improvement, flare-ups often reappear. Severe UC can provoke life-threatening complications: colon cancer, bleeding, rupture of the intestinal wall. If life-threatening complications occur, immediate surgical intervention is necessary. Unfortunately, drug therapy for ulcerative colitis is not always effective. But with traditional medicine it gives much better results.

The causes of NUC have not yet been determined. But scientists believe that the basis of the disease is a violation of the immune response, which leads to the disease. There are some factors that can provoke the development of the disease:

malfunction of the immune system;

diseases of the stomach, in particular autoimmune gastritis;

heredity;

transferred infectious diseases;
bad habits.

NUC begins with an inflammatory process in the rectum, which gradually spreads to the large intestine. The lesion passes to the mucous and submucosal layers of the intestine, as a result of which its entire inner surface is covered with ulcers.

Important! Nervous stress contributes to the progression of the disease, so therapy should also be aimed at restoring the emotional balance of the patient.

Ulcerative colitis is considered an autoimmune disease: the body, for unknown scientific reasons, opposes itself. Therefore, the therapy of the disease is a long process consisting of three stages:

Taking 5-aminosalicylic acid preparations: Mesalazine, Salofalk, Sulfasalazine, Pentasa, etc. Therapy is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process in the intestine and restoring the mucous membrane.

To relieve pronounced symptoms, the gastroenterologist may increase the dose of the drugs mentioned above. As soon as bleeding stops and pain disappears, the dosage will be reduced to maintenance therapy.

If the drugs of the first group do not bring the desired effect, then hormones may be prescribed by the attending physician. For example, high doses of Metipred followed by a decrease (up to the abolition of hormone therapy). When the patient's condition improves, they are transferred to maintenance therapy with medicines from the salicylates group.

If the situation has not improved, the gastroenterologist prescribes the strongest drugs of the cytostatic group, which are used to treat tumors. Medicines of this group are prescribed to suppress the aggressive immune response of the body.

A person suffering from ulcerative colitis is advised to reconsider their diet. He is allowed to eat lean fish and meat, dry biscuits, pureed cereals (preferably buckwheat). All dishes are best steamed.

With ulcerative colitis, walnuts and honey are useful. In the acute stage of the disease, decoctions of blueberries, pears, rosehips, etc. help relieve symptoms.

Dairy products, spicy, fried and salty foods, as well as dried fruits, beets, mushrooms, kiwi and chocolate should be excluded from the diet.

In patients, food is poorly digested and partially absorbed into the blood, so you need to eat often (up to 6 times a day), but in small portions.

After the onset of remission, the diet can be expanded, but only after consultation with the doctor.

And dairy products will have to be completely abandoned.

It is possible to alleviate the symptoms and gradually cure ulcerative colitis with the help of a properly selected complex treatment: medicines, herbs, psychotherapy.

Sometimes herbal medicine remains the only way of treatment when medical therapy is contraindicated, and surgery can still be avoided.

Folk remedies prepared on the basis of herbs should stop bleeding, envelop the intestinal mucosa and promote wound healing.

Herbs used to treat ulcerative colitis should have the properties described above. In addition, herbal infusions restore the water-salt balance in the body, replenish fluid loss.

Ulcerative colitis is treated with folk remedies and herbal ingredients, proven for centuries:

Currant, strawberry and raspberry leaves: activate the work of the liver, which fights the disease.

Nettle: reduces inflammation and cleanses the intestines, and also improves blood clotting.

Dried blueberries: kills cancer cells and cleanses the intestines.

Chamomile: A powerful antiseptic that relieves spasms.

Peppermint: soothes the nervous system, restores the digestive tract and has an antibacterial effect.

Potentilla: Stops diarrhea and promotes healing of sores.

Sleep: heals wounds, has a healing effect on bowel function, reduces pain.

Wormwood: Kills destructive microorganisms in the intestines.

Celandine: promotes healing of ulcers and reduces inflammation, and also has a calming effect.

Pomegranate (peel): An infusion of pomegranate peel will stop diarrhea and help reduce inflammation in the body.

St. John's wort: promotes the removal of purulent contents from the intestines, improves gastrointestinal motility.

Yarrow: restores stool, has a bactericidal effect.

Alder: fights intestinal bleeding, heals wounds.

Highlander bird: has a wound healing effect, reduces inflammation.

The herbs listed above can be used to make medicines and infusions to help treat ulcerative colitis. Herbs can be brewed separately, as well as combined into fees (in equal proportions). Glycerin can be added to ready-made decoctions.

Propolis, its alcohol tincture, prepared on the basis of this natural component, will help to cope with UC.

Initially, treatment begins with a minimum amount of propolis tincture (10%). Recommended dose: 30 drops of tincture diluted in 100 grams of water or milk. Drink 3 times a day.

If after 7 days no adverse reactions occur, then the 10% tincture is replaced by 20%. Dose - 40 drops diluted in milk or water. Take 3 times a day for about a month.

If the disease is chronic, then it is necessary to take a break of 15-20 days, and then repeat the course of treatment.

Some experts argue that it is necessary to take propolis even if an allergic reaction occurs. But! This is not true: the patient's body rejects the medicine! Therefore, try to choose a folk remedy that really can help you, and be sure to consult a gastroenterologist.

Treatment of nonspecific ulcerative colitis depends on the localization of the pathological process in the intestine, its extent, the severity of attacks, the presence of local and systemic complications.

The main goals of conservative therapy:

pain relief,
prevention of disease recurrence
prevention of the progression of the pathological process.

Ulcerative colitis of the distal intestines: proctitis and proctosigmoiditis are treated on an outpatient basis, as they have a milder course. Patients with total and left-sided lesions of the colon are shown to be treated in a hospital, since they have more pronounced clinical manifestations and there are large organic changes.

Nutrition of the sick

A diet for ulcerative colitis should spare the intestines, help increase its regenerative abilities, eliminate fermentation and putrefactive processes, and also regulate metabolism.

Sample menu for ulcerative colitis:

Breakfast - rice or any other porridge with butter, steamed cutlet, tea;
Second breakfast - about forty grams of boiled meat and berry jelly;
Lunch - soup with meatballs, meat casserole, dried fruit compote;
Dinner - mashed potatoes with fish cake, tea;
Snack - baked apples.

Medical treatment

Treatment of ulcerative colitis of the intestine is carried out in three main directions:

preventing or stopping internal bleeding;
restoration of water-salt balance in the body;
cessation of pathogenic effects on the intestinal mucosa.

Phytotherapy

Infusions of medicinal herbs have a mild restorative effect: they envelop the damaged intestinal mucosa, heal wounds, and stop bleeding. Herbal infusions and decoctions can replenish fluid loss in the body and restore water and electrolyte balance.

The main components of therapeutic herbal teas are:

The leaves and fruits of currants, raspberries and strawberries help the liver fight any acute inflammatory process in the body.
Dried blueberries cleanse the intestines of putrefactive microorganisms and help in the fight against cancer cells.
Nettle improves blood clotting, relieves inflammation, cleanses the intestines from decay and decay products.
Peppermint fights emotional lability, diarrhea, relieves inflammation and spasms, and has a pronounced antimicrobial effect.
Chamomile is a powerful herbal antibiotic that can also relieve spasms.
Yarrow stops diarrhea, has bactericidal properties and cleanses the intestines from pathogenic microorganisms.
St. John's wort stimulates intestinal motility and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

These herbs are used to treat ulcerative colitis in the form of infusions and decoctions. They are combined in fees or brewed separately.

Dry leaves and raspberry branches are poured with boiling water and insisted for half an hour. Take a remedy of one hundred milliliters four times a day before meals.
A collection of medicinal herbs is prepared as follows: centaury grass, sage leaves and chamomile flowers are mixed in a teaspoon. Then pour a glass of boiling water and leave for thirty minutes. Drink one tablespoon every two hours. Three months later, the intervals between doses of the infusion are lengthened. Such treatment is harmless and can last for a long time.
Peppermint leaves are poured with boiling water and infused for twenty minutes. Take a glass twenty minutes before meals. The same effective remedy for colitis is an infusion of strawberry leaves, which is prepared similarly to this.
Fifty grams of fresh pomegranate seeds are boiled over low heat for half an hour, pouring a glass of water. Take two tablespoons twice a day. Pomegranate decoction is a fairly effective remedy for allergic colitis.
One hundred grams of yarrow herb is poured with a liter of boiling water and insisted for a day in a closed container. After straining, the infusion is boiled. Then add one tablespoon of alcohol and glycerin and mix well. Take the remedy thirty drops half an hour before meals for a month.
Mixed in equal amounts of medicinal sage, peppermint, chamomile, St. John's wort and cumin. This mixture is placed in a thermos, poured with boiling water and left overnight. Starting from the next day, take the infusion regularly for half a cup three times a day for a month.

Folk remedies

Dried watermelon peels in the amount of one hundred grams are poured with two glasses of boiling water and taken one hundred milliliters six times a day.
Eight grams of propolis should be eaten daily to reduce the symptoms of colitis. It needs to be chewed on an empty stomach for a long time.
Squeeze the juice from the onion and take it one teaspoon three times a day. This folk remedy is very effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
The whey obtained by squeezing the cheese is recommended to be taken twice a day.
Walnut kernels are regularly eaten for three months. Positive results will become noticeable within a month from the start of treatment.
How to cure ulcerative colitis with microclysters? For this, starch microclysters are shown, prepared by diluting five grams of starch in one hundred milliliters of cool water.
Microclysters made from honey and chamomile, which are pre-brewed with boiling water, are considered effective. One enema requires fifty milliliters of solution. The duration of treatment is eight procedures.
Viburnum berries are poured with boiling water and viburnum tea is drunk immediately before meals.

The disease nonspecific ulcerative colitis (NUC), characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, occurs as a result of a combination of genetic factors with external causes that exacerbate symptoms and serve as a sign of the disease. The disease has a tendency to exacerbate and increases the risk of cancer of the rectum or colon. Timely diagnosis and measures taken can improve the quality of life and prevent dangerous consequences.

What is ulcerative colitis

NUC is accompanied by destruction of cells and tissues of the intestine against the background of a deficiency of immunoglobulins, which provokes the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into tissues with subsequent inflammation. The disease occurs in the proportion of 100 cases for every 100 thousand of the population. The definition carries a collective semantic load, the disease is divided into forms depending on localization, which, according to the international classification of ICD-10, have the code K51.

Symptoms

The symptoms of UC in adults have a wide range of manifestations, which leads to the absence of serious concern for the patient and the expectation that "it will pass by itself." In the opposite case (fulminant colitis), the patient goes straight to the hospital. You need to contact a specialist if you notice the following symptoms:

Blood with excreted feces is the surest sign. These may be faint marks on toilet paper or blood clots.
Fragments of mucus and purulent discharge in the feces.
Diarrhea, in which the number of diarrhea reaches 20 per day.
With the defeat of the sigmoid department, constipation is characteristic.
Tenesmus (false urge to defecate). Often caused by accumulations of pus and mucus that come out instead of stool (rectal spit).
Flatulence.
Pain in the left side of the abdomen (left-sided colitis).
Against the background of intoxication, fever develops and the temperature rises.

Extraintestinal manifestations of UC

Non-intestinal lesions caused by UC are diverse. Some are caused by the ileocolitis form (Crohn's disease) - lesions in the oral cavity, others - by the chronic form of enterocolitis. In total, extraintestinal manifestations occur in no more than 20% of patients. Typical ones include:

erythema nodosum (inflammation of the vessels of the skin and subcutaneous fat);
pyoderma gangrenosum (skin necrosis);
symptoms of aphthous stomatitis in the oral cavity in the form of erosions;
various eye lesions: conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis, episcleritis, retrobulbar neuritis, choroiditis;
joint damage in the form of arthritis, increased fragility (osteoporosis) and softening of the bones (osteomalacia);
necrosis of a separate segment of bone tissue (aseptic necrosis);
a third of patients experience lung damage;
violation of the endocrine system leads to total damage to the liver, pancreas and biliary tract

Signs of ulcerative colitis of the intestine

In the course of the development of the disease, the damage to the mucous membranes increases, which leads to the formation of ulcers, sometimes penetrating to the layer of muscle tissue. In the chronic course of peptic ulcer, conglomerates of cells (inflammatory polyps) appear, which are formed in the process of restoring the affected intestinal epithelium. In a severe form of the disease, the large intestine thickens, and its lumen narrows, haustras (protrusions of the wall) disappear. In the acute phase, capillaries expand in the mucosal epithelium and hemorrhages occur, leading to ischemic necrosis.

The reasons

The exact etiology of the disease has not yet been established. There is a correlation between the psycho-emotional state that provokes the disease. To date, experts are seriously discussing three conceptually feasible options:

Genetic predisposition, including autoimmune disorders. There are a number of studies that fix the same gene mutations in a large number of patients. However, not all people with such pathologies are susceptible to the disease.
Infectious pathology.
Adverse environmental factors: strong contraceptives, strict diets.

Classification

For a systematic classification of UC, it is best to refer to the International Classification of Diseases system. In accordance with this system, the disease is divided into forms:

Chronic ulcerative enterocolitis (lesion of the mucous membrane of the small and large intestines) - K51.0.
Chronic ulcerative form of ileocolitis, also known as Crohn's disease (lesion of the ileum and colon) - K51.1.
Chronic ulcerative form of proctitis (damage to the mucous membrane of the rectum) - K51.2.
Chronic ulcerative form of sigmoiditis (damage to the sigmoid colon) - K51.3
Pseudopolyposis (restructuring of the mucous tissues of the intestine, their dysplasia) - K51.4.
Mucosal type proctocolitis (lesion of the rectum, sigmoid and descending transverse colon, including the splenic angle) - K51.5.

Diagnostics

A gastroenterologist can determine distal nonspecific colitis when examining a patient and detecting a number of specific signs. In addition to visual examination, laboratory blood tests are carried out. The patient has a decrease in the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin (signs of anemia), an increased number of leukocytes, C-reactive protein (which is an indicator of inflammation).

An immunological study of blood in patients shows an increase in the level of cytoplasmic antineutrophil antibodies. Of the instrumental methods, the following methods are used:

endoscopy (rectosigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy) - reveal the presence of ulcers, polyps, intestinal bleeding, atrophy of the colon mucosa;
radiography - a contrasting barium mixture is used, the patient is found to have an expansion of the intestinal lumen, the formation of ulcers.

Treatment of ulcerative colitis

Treatment of UC consists of a comprehensive symptomatic approach. The objectives of therapy include the elimination of immune inflammation with medications, the maintenance of remission with the help of folk recipes and the patient's diet, and the prevention of local complications. If the methods of classical drug therapy do not help to cure the patient or the effect of them is weak, a surgical operation is performed.

Conservative therapy

Treatment of nonspecific ulcerative colitis begins with medication. Popular groups of drugs are:

Antibiotics - are used after surgery, with fevers and sepsis, toxic dilatation of the colon. Of the available drugs, Trichopolum, Metronidazole are isolated at a dose of 10-20 mg / kg per day.
Immunosuppressants or cytostatics - are prescribed when corticosteroids are ineffective or continuous treatment. Azathioprine, Methotrexate, Cyclosporine are prescribed. The dose is set by the doctor (from 25 to 100 mg / day), the course of treatment is at least three months.
Immunomodulators - Timalin and Taktivin correct the immunological imbalance, eliminate the inflammation process, help to cure the disease in a complex way.
Angioprotectors - Parmidin, Trental.
Enterosorbents - Polyphepan, Karbolen, Enterosgel, Vaulin.
Intestinal antiseptics - Intestopan, Furazolidone.
Antidiarrheal drugs - Almalox, Reasek, Imodium.
Enzymes - Mezim, Creon, Pancreatin.
Biological products (pre-and probiotics) - Lactobacterin, Bifikol.

Anti-inflammatory drugs

The first in the list of drugs for the treatment of colitis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids. They are assigned on an individual basis and are divided into the following groups:

Aminosalicylic acid preparations are salicylates that inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory mediators. These include Sulfasalazine, Mesalazine, Pentasa.
Azo compounds - Olsalazine, Balsalazid, Salofalk, Mesacol. Available in the form of tablets, microclysters and rectal suppositories.
Hormone therapy with glucocorticoids - used in the absence of the effect of salicylates, they are distinguished by a rapid effect. Means are administered rectally or systemically. Popular drugs are Prednisolone and Methylprednisolone at a dose of 1-2 mg / kg of body weight for a course of 10-20 weeks.

Diet

Of great importance is the diet in ulcerative colitis of the colon. During periods of exacerbation, the patient is recommended fasting, only water is allowed. With a long remission, you need to adhere to the following nutritional rules:

reduce the amount of fat, increase the percentage of protein, include lean fish, meat, cottage cheese, eggs in the diet;
give up coarse fiber, bananas, milk, chocolate, coffee, citrus fruits, strawberries, red apples, muffins, spicy foods;
from carbohydrates, cereals, honey, kissels, jelly, compotes, decoctions are allowed;
with a high severity of lesions, the patient is transferred to parenteral and enteral nutrition;
pomegranate juice is used as an astringent.

Treatment with folk remedies

Chronic colitis is accompanied by diarrhea and constipation, traditional medicine recipes will help cure them:

Mix chamomile and yarrow in a 5:1 ratio, add an equal amount of nettle, St. John's wort and wild rose. Brew a tablespoon of the collection with a glass of water or put in a water bath. Drink a glass before meals to stop diarrhea and bleeding and prevent putrefaction.
To restore intestinal motility, mix equal amounts of herbs: chamomile, goutweed, nettle, mint, valerian root, blueberries. Pour three tablespoons in a thermos with three cups of boiling water overnight. Drink a glass before meals.
For the treatment of edema, rapid cell recovery and wound healing, it is recommended to do microclysters with sea buckthorn oil. Dial 50 ml of oil into a pear, enter into the rectum in a supine position for the night. Empty your bowels in the morning, drink 1-2 tablespoons of oil on an empty stomach.

Surgery

If conservative treatment fails, surgery is indicated. Types of operations are colectomy (removal of the large intestine or part of it), proctocolectomy (removal of the rectum and colon), proctocolectomy with ileostomy (without preserving the anus). The reasons for the operation are.