Difference between ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis: Ulcerative Colitis vs. Diverticulitis: How They Differ
Ulcerative Colitis vs. Diverticulitis: How They Differ
Ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are both conditions that affect your digestive system. Although they have some common symptoms, they are entirely different conditions, with unique causes and treatment plans.
Both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are digestive conditions that can cause uncomfortable symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, and blood in your stool. But there are key differences between the two.
Diverticulitis is a condition characterized by the development of small, bulging sacs in the colon (large intestine). On the other hand, ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition where the inner lining of the colon becomes inflamed and causes ulcers to develop.
Diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis require different treatment plans, which is why it’s important that you visit your healthcare professional if you have symptoms of either condition.
Let’s take a look at the differences and similarities between ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis, as well as how to get a diagnosis and treatment.
While both conditions affect your digestive system and have several overlapping symptoms, ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are two distinct conditions with unique causes and symptoms. Here’s what to know about each condition.
Ulcerative colitis: Causes and symptoms
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). People with ulcerative colitis develop inflammation and ulcers in their large intestine. It’s considered chronic, meaning that people who have the condition have it for life. Still, with the right treatment, many people are able to effectively manage their symptoms.
It’s not known exactly what causes ulcerative colitis. Medical experts believe the following factors may play a role:
- Your genes: If your parents or grandparents had ulcerative colitis, you may have inherited certain genes that make you more prone to developing it too.
- Unusual immune reactions: It’s thought that ulcerative colitis may be triggered by abnormal reactions in the immune system.
- Microbiome differences: Certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi in your digestive tract (known as your microbiome) may play a role in triggering ulcerative colitis.
- Environmental factors: Experts believe that your surroundings may play a role in causing ulcerative colitis, especially if you have other risk factors.
Ulcerative colitis symptoms can vary a lot from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- blood in stool
- decreased appetite
- weight loss
- fatigue
- malnutrition, such as anemia
- decreased growth (in children)
Diverticulitis: Causes and symptoms
Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches or sacs develop in the lining of your colon (large intestine). These pouches in the wall of your colon can become infected or inflamed, causing a diverticulitis flare-up.
Although there’s no single cause of diverticulitis, it does become more common as you age.
There are several other factors that can increase your risk of developing diverticulitis, such as:
- a family history of diverticulitis
- a diet that’s low in fiber
- a diet that’s high in red meat
- having obesity
- a sedentary lifestyle
- smoking
- decreased immune function
- certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids.
Symptoms of diverticulitis are mainly digestive in nature, and may be moderate to more severe. Typical symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- stomach pain, usually on the left side
- abdominal bloating
- constipation
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- nausea
- fever
- chills
Because both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis have digestive symptoms — and many symptoms that overlap — it’s not possible to tell which condition you have from symptoms alone. That’s why it’s vital to talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of either condition.
The type of physician that diagnoses these conditions is called a gastroenterologist. Many people visit their primary care provider (PCP) first with digestive symptoms, and then get a referral to a gastroenterologist if their PCP thinks a full workup and diagnosis is necessary.
Many of the tests used to help diagnose ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are the same. Testing may include:
- blood tests to look for nutritional deficiencies and signs of infections
- stool tests
- a colonoscopy, to visualize the lining of the rectum and colon
If your doctor thinks you may have diverticulitis, you may also have imaging tests, such as an MRI, CT scan, or an ultrasound.
If ulcerative colitis is suspected, your doctor may also order a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is used to view and analyze the lining of the rectum and lower colon. An ulcerative colitis diagnosis often also involves a biopsy of the large intestine.
Ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis have different treatment plans and treatment durations.
Again, this is why it’s imperative to get a proper diagnosis so that your treatment plan is geared toward the correct condition.
Treatment for diverticulitis
Typically, treatment for diverticulitis has involved antibiotics to treat infections, along with dietary changes like increased fiber or fiber supplements. However, more recently, experts recommend preserving antibiotics for the most complicated cases of diverticulitis.
Sometimes medications are prescribed to decrease inflammation, and pain relievers are often used to reduce pain and discomfort as the infection clears.
Treatment for ulcerative colitis
Treatment for ulcerative colitis involves a combination of medication and dietary changes, and less commonly, surgery.
Most medications prescribed for ulcerative colitis aim to reduce inflammation in the colon. The type of medicine that’s prescribed will depend on the severity of the disease. Common medications include:
- Aminosalicylates: Recommended for people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, this type of medication (also known as 5-ASA drugs), helps ease symptoms by decreasing inflammation in the colon.
- Corticosteroids: Used for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, corticosteroids help decrease your body’s overall immune system response, which reduces inflammation. This medication is usually prescribed for people who don’t get symptom relief from aminosalicylates.
- Immunosuppressants: Prescribed for people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, immunosuppressants decrease your body’s response to its own immune system.
- Biologics: Developed in a lab from a living organism, these drugs prevent specific proteins in your body from causing inflammation. Biologic drugs are usually used to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Surgery is usually only recommended when patients don’t respond to other medical treatments.
Both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis can be serious, especially if untreated. While most people recover after an acute episode of diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis requires lifelong treatment.
If left untreated, ulcerative colitis can be severe. Complications may lead to:
- a perforated colon (hole in the wall of the large intestine)
- fulminant colitis (swelling and distention of the colon)
- toxic megacolon (abnormal and severe dilation of the colon)
- severe dehydration
Treatment of ulcerative colitis is usually effective and long periods of remission are possible. However, having ulcerative colitis may increase your risk of colorectal cancer, especially if the condition is more severe, starts at a younger age, or involves a larger portion of your intestine.
Complications of diverticulitis can include:
- an abscess in the intestine
- phlegmon (a reaction where the body tries to contain an infection)
- a fistula (an unnatural connection between one structure and another, for instance an opening between the bladder and colon)
- a perforated colon
- bowel obstruction (a blockage in the colon)
- secondary bouts of diverticulitis
Although treatment of diverticulitis is usually effective, about 20% to 50% of people will have recurrent symptoms.
Diverticulitis is rarely fatal, though some studies have found that the condition slightly increases your chance of colorectal cancer.
Yes, it’s possible to have both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis at the same time. While there’s not a lot of research about this phenomenon, it’s considered a rare occurrence.
If you have any symptoms of diverticulitis or ulcerative colitis, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis to determine if you have one or the other condition, or both at the same time.
Ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are both conditions that affect your digestive system. They have some symptoms in common, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blood in the stool. However, they are entirely different conditions, with different diagnoses and treatment plans.
If you have symptoms of either condition, it’s important to see your doctor to determine whether you have either of these conditions. Without the right treatment, both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis can get worse and lead to potentially serious complications.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/diverticulosis-vs-diverticulitis-5201446-Final-42abf0bed6dc44a19900a7bd88ffbd00.jpg)
Ulcerative Colitis vs. Diverticulitis: How They Differ
Ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are both conditions that affect your digestive system. Although they have some common symptoms, they are entirely different conditions, with unique causes and treatment plans.
Both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are digestive conditions that can cause uncomfortable symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, and blood in your stool. But there are key differences between the two.
Diverticulitis is a condition characterized by the development of small, bulging sacs in the colon (large intestine). On the other hand, ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition where the inner lining of the colon becomes inflamed and causes ulcers to develop.
Diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis require different treatment plans, which is why it’s important that you visit your healthcare professional if you have symptoms of either condition.
Let’s take a look at the differences and similarities between ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis, as well as how to get a diagnosis and treatment.
While both conditions affect your digestive system and have several overlapping symptoms, ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are two distinct conditions with unique causes and symptoms. Here’s what to know about each condition.
Ulcerative colitis: Causes and symptoms
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). People with ulcerative colitis develop inflammation and ulcers in their large intestine. It’s considered chronic, meaning that people who have the condition have it for life. Still, with the right treatment, many people are able to effectively manage their symptoms.
It’s not known exactly what causes ulcerative colitis. Medical experts believe the following factors may play a role:
- Your genes: If your parents or grandparents had ulcerative colitis, you may have inherited certain genes that make you more prone to developing it too.
- Unusual immune reactions: It’s thought that ulcerative colitis may be triggered by abnormal reactions in the immune system.
- Microbiome differences: Certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi in your digestive tract (known as your microbiome) may play a role in triggering ulcerative colitis.
- Environmental factors: Experts believe that your surroundings may play a role in causing ulcerative colitis, especially if you have other risk factors.
Ulcerative colitis symptoms can vary a lot from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- blood in stool
- decreased appetite
- weight loss
- fatigue
- malnutrition, such as anemia
- decreased growth (in children)
Diverticulitis: Causes and symptoms
Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches or sacs develop in the lining of your colon (large intestine). These pouches in the wall of your colon can become infected or inflamed, causing a diverticulitis flare-up.
Although there’s no single cause of diverticulitis, it does become more common as you age.
There are several other factors that can increase your risk of developing diverticulitis, such as:
- a family history of diverticulitis
- a diet that’s low in fiber
- a diet that’s high in red meat
- having obesity
- a sedentary lifestyle
- smoking
- decreased immune function
- certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids.
Symptoms of diverticulitis are mainly digestive in nature, and may be moderate to more severe. Typical symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- stomach pain, usually on the left side
- abdominal bloating
- constipation
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- nausea
- fever
- chills
Because both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis have digestive symptoms — and many symptoms that overlap — it’s not possible to tell which condition you have from symptoms alone. That’s why it’s vital to talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of either condition.
The type of physician that diagnoses these conditions is called a gastroenterologist. Many people visit their primary care provider (PCP) first with digestive symptoms, and then get a referral to a gastroenterologist if their PCP thinks a full workup and diagnosis is necessary.
Many of the tests used to help diagnose ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are the same. Testing may include:
- blood tests to look for nutritional deficiencies and signs of infections
- stool tests
- a colonoscopy, to visualize the lining of the rectum and colon
If your doctor thinks you may have diverticulitis, you may also have imaging tests, such as an MRI, CT scan, or an ultrasound.
If ulcerative colitis is suspected, your doctor may also order a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is used to view and analyze the lining of the rectum and lower colon. An ulcerative colitis diagnosis often also involves a biopsy of the large intestine.
Ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis have different treatment plans and treatment durations.
Again, this is why it’s imperative to get a proper diagnosis so that your treatment plan is geared toward the correct condition.
Treatment for diverticulitis
Typically, treatment for diverticulitis has involved antibiotics to treat infections, along with dietary changes like increased fiber or fiber supplements. However, more recently, experts recommend preserving antibiotics for the most complicated cases of diverticulitis.
Sometimes medications are prescribed to decrease inflammation, and pain relievers are often used to reduce pain and discomfort as the infection clears.
Treatment for ulcerative colitis
Treatment for ulcerative colitis involves a combination of medication and dietary changes, and less commonly, surgery.
Most medications prescribed for ulcerative colitis aim to reduce inflammation in the colon. The type of medicine that’s prescribed will depend on the severity of the disease. Common medications include:
- Aminosalicylates: Recommended for people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, this type of medication (also known as 5-ASA drugs), helps ease symptoms by decreasing inflammation in the colon.
- Corticosteroids: Used for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, corticosteroids help decrease your body’s overall immune system response, which reduces inflammation. This medication is usually prescribed for people who don’t get symptom relief from aminosalicylates.
- Immunosuppressants: Prescribed for people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, immunosuppressants decrease your body’s response to its own immune system.
- Biologics: Developed in a lab from a living organism, these drugs prevent specific proteins in your body from causing inflammation. Biologic drugs are usually used to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Surgery is usually only recommended when patients don’t respond to other medical treatments.
Both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis can be serious, especially if untreated. While most people recover after an acute episode of diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis requires lifelong treatment.
If left untreated, ulcerative colitis can be severe. Complications may lead to:
- a perforated colon (hole in the wall of the large intestine)
- fulminant colitis (swelling and distention of the colon)
- toxic megacolon (abnormal and severe dilation of the colon)
- severe dehydration
Treatment of ulcerative colitis is usually effective and long periods of remission are possible. However, having ulcerative colitis may increase your risk of colorectal cancer, especially if the condition is more severe, starts at a younger age, or involves a larger portion of your intestine.
Complications of diverticulitis can include:
- an abscess in the intestine
- phlegmon (a reaction where the body tries to contain an infection)
- a fistula (an unnatural connection between one structure and another, for instance an opening between the bladder and colon)
- a perforated colon
- bowel obstruction (a blockage in the colon)
- secondary bouts of diverticulitis
Although treatment of diverticulitis is usually effective, about 20% to 50% of people will have recurrent symptoms.
Diverticulitis is rarely fatal, though some studies have found that the condition slightly increases your chance of colorectal cancer.
Yes, it’s possible to have both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis at the same time. While there’s not a lot of research about this phenomenon, it’s considered a rare occurrence.
If you have any symptoms of diverticulitis or ulcerative colitis, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis to determine if you have one or the other condition, or both at the same time.
Ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis are both conditions that affect your digestive system. They have some symptoms in common, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blood in the stool. However, they are entirely different conditions, with different diagnoses and treatment plans.
If you have symptoms of either condition, it’s important to see your doctor to determine whether you have either of these conditions. Without the right treatment, both ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis can get worse and lead to potentially serious complications.
Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis – Health Clinic 365 Yekaterinburg
Your doctor will most likely be able to diagnose ulcerative colitis only after ruling out other diseases that cause similar symptoms, including Crohn’s disease, ischemic colitis, irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS), diverticulitis, and colon cancer. To confirm or refute the diagnosis of non-specific ulcerative colitis, you will have to undergo several tests:
Blood tests . Your doctor may suggest doing a complete blood count to look for anemia (a condition in which there are not enough red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen to tissues) or to check for signs of infection. Test; looking for β-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies can sometimes help determine what type of inflammatory bowel disease you have. But not all people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have elevated levels of these antibodies.
Ulcerative colitis may present with the following non-specific symptoms:
An increase in both indicators indicates the activation of the inflammatory process. Fecal analysis . The presence of white blood cells in the stool indicates the presence of inflammatory bowel disease, possibly ulcerative colitis. Calprotectin is a protein produced in leukocytes, its concentration in feces is directly proportional to the number of leukocytes in the intestine. Thus, determining the amount of calprotectin in feces is a study that allows diagnosing inflammatory bowel diseases. A stool test will also help rule out other causes of bowel problems, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Your doctor may also order a stool culture to rule out bacteria in the gut that are often found in people with ulcerative colitis.
Colonoscopy . Colonoscopy is a diagnostic study that allows the doctor to examine the colonic mucosa using a thin, flexible, illuminated tube with a built-in video camera. During the procedure, the doctor may also remove small pieces of tissue (biopsy) for examination under a microscope to help confirm the diagnosis.
Sigmoidoscopy . During sigmoidoscopy, the doctor examines the sigmoid colon (the last section of the colon) using a special rectoscope device.
Colon x-ray with contrast . This study is usually performed in cases where a colonoscopy is not possible. Before an x-ray examination, the patient is given an enema with a contrast agent containing barium. Sometimes, air is also introduced into the intestine. Barium settles on the walls of the intestines, creating a silhouette of the rectum and large intestine, its image can be seen on x-rays.
Plain abdominal x-ray . If the patient has symptoms suggestive of toxic megacolon or bowel perforation, x-rays may be indicated.
Computed tomography (CT) . In some cases, your doctor may order you to have a CT scan of your abdomen, a special x-ray that provides a more accurate image than regular x-rays.
Ulcerative colitis: symptoms, treatment and clinical guidelines
Ulcerative colitis (formerly known as ulcerative colitis or UC) is a chronic inflammation of the colonic mucosa with ulceration of the inner wall of the intestine. This is a severe chronic disease that can last for decades and significantly reduces the quality of human life. Approximately every 500th inhabitant of the Earth suffers from this pathology.
Most often, the first signs of ulcerative colitis appear in adolescence and youth in the period of 15-30 years, but can be detected later.
What can cause ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis was previously thought to be caused by poor diet and frequent stress.
However, further studies have shown that these factors may increase the severity of the symptoms of the disease, but are not its cause.
Currently, there is no single concept regarding the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Probably, a significant contribution to the development of this disease is made by a violation of the mechanisms of the immune response in the body.
Hereditary causes can also play a role – most often, if there are relatives in the family who suffer from this pathology, other family members are also at increased risk. This is especially evident in the example of closed communities, for example, Ashkenazi Jews.
In addition, there is a theory that ulcerative colitis can be triggered by a high number of sulfate-reducing bacteria, the waste products of which trigger the development of this pathology.
Typology of ulcerative colitis
According to the localization of the affected area in the gastrointestinal tract, the following types of ulcerative colitis are distinguished:
- Proctitis – inflammation of the rectum.
- Proctsigmoiditis – affects the rectum and sigmoid colon.
- Distal colitis – pathological changes occur in the rectum, sigmoid and descending colon.
- Left-sided colitis – inflammation of the part of the large intestine located on the left side of the abdominal cavity (distal intestine plus transverse colon).
- Pancolitis – inflammation of the large intestine along its entire length.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis
The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis, depending on its location, are diarrhea with blood or pus, pain and cramps in the abdominal cavity. In addition, pathological fatigue, fever, nausea, sudden weight loss, anemia, joint pain and skin rashes are possible.
In different people, the symptoms of the disease may be stronger or weaker, all at once or separately. Spontaneous disappearance of symptoms (remission) is also possible, which can last for years.
Dangers, complications, risks of ulcerative colitis
- Colon cancer – patients are indicated for colonoscopy every 1-2 years;
- Thrombosis of arteries and veins;
- Inflammation of the eyes, mouth and skin;
- Bone demineralization and osteoporosis;
- Edema of the colon;
- Inflammation and/or damage to the bile duct;
- Severe bleeding and associated infections;
- Dehydration due to constant blood loss.
Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis
Endoscopy is currently the leading diagnostic method. Also, for the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, a histological analysis is performed to exclude Crohn’s disease from the diagnosis. To assess the severity of the course of the disease, laboratory tests are used (complete blood count, blood test for specific antibodies (pANCA) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, CRP), fecal analysis). Ultrasound scanning and computed tomography can be used to assess the degree of edema of the large intestine and observe its possible perforation.
Treatment of ulcerative colitis
Treatment of ulcerative colitis, depending on the severity of the disease being tolerated, includes drug therapy, dietary changes and, in extreme cases, surgery. The course of therapy is aimed primarily at eliminating the symptoms of the disease and can be adjusted if unwanted side effects occur.
Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of ulcerative colitis include the following types of drugs:
- Anti-inflammatory – to eliminate pathological inflammation;
- Antibiotics – for the treatment of associated infections;
- Corticosteroids – for short-term reduction of the immune response and inflammation;
- Immunosuppressants – to reduce the intensity of the immune response in the long term;
- Iron preparations – for the prevention of anemia and the restoration of hemoglobin levels;
- Specialized probiotics – to change the composition of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.
Is ulcerative colitis curable?
Unfortunately, even a well-chosen course of therapy is not able to guarantee a complete cure for ulcerative colitis. In some cases, patients continue to experience negative sensations even after surgery. However, following the doctor’s instructions, in combination with periodic diagnosis, allows you to achieve a stable remission in most cases.
Ulcerative Colitis Diet
Although diet is not a factor in causing ulcerative colitis, there are foods that increase the symptoms of the disease. These include milk, fiber-rich foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains), spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine. If the diagnosis is confirmed, these foods should be avoided. Following a diet for ulcerative colitis will help achieve sustainable remission.
Psychological care for ulcerative colitis
Since this pathological condition is associated with prolonged pain and chronic fatigue, the help of a qualified psychologist becomes important. The patient needs to reconsider his life attitudes, based on the reduced amount of resources; possibly change occupation and lifestyle. Psychological group therapy with patients suffering from this ailment may also be useful.
Traditional medicines in the treatment of ulcerative colitis
It is strictly not recommended to try to treat ulcerative colitis with “folk” remedies and alternative medicine.