This procedure involves filling the colon with barium, a chalky white solution. The barium shows up white on x-ray film, allowing the physician a clear view of any ulcers or other abnormalities that might be in the colon. Treatments Treatment for ulcerative colitis depends on the seriousness of the disease. Most people are treated with medication. In severe cases, a patient may need surgery to remove the diseased colon.
Surgery is the only cure for ulcerative colitis.
Emotional and psychological support is important. However, most patients' symptoms eventually return. This changing pattern of the disease means one cannot always tell when a treatment has helped. Someone with ulcerative colitis may need medical care for some time, with regular visits to the physician to monitor the condition. To control inflammation, physicians treat most patients with mild or moderate disease with 5-ASA agents, a combination of the drugs sulfonamide, sulfapyridine, and salicylate.