This can cause anemia. In addition, excessive bowel movements hinder the absorption of nutrients and cause chemical imbalances in the body. Ten percent of people diagnosed as having ulcerative colitis have a rapid progressive initial attack that may be fatal. Ten percent of people recover completely after a single attack of ulcerative colitis, while, for others, it may become a lifelong problem. For most patients, medical therapy can control the problem.
Treatment involves relieving the symptoms and decreasing the inflammation.
Several drugs are available that improve symptoms in most people. Follow-up examinations must be done on a regular basis for those patients diagnosed with colitis. This is important because there is an increased incidence of cancer in some types of colitis, including ulcerative colitis. Your healthcare provider will work with you in the follow-up evaluations. Severe cases require a hospital stay, where treatment restores balance to the patient's blood chemistry and rests the intestines.