Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, the ileum. The inflammation causes diarrhea, or frequent emptying of the colon. Although children and older people sometimes develop ulcerative colitis, it most often affects people ages 15 to 40. It affects males and females equally and appears to run in some families.
Ulcerative colitis requires long-term medical care.
However, usually symptoms eventually return. Only in rare cases, when complications occur, is the disease fatal. If only the rectum and lower colon are involved, the risk of cancer is not higher than normal. However, the risk of colon cancer is greater than normal in patients with widespread ulcerative colitis. The following are the most common symptoms for ulcerative colitis, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently.