Medication currently available decreases inflammation and usually controls the symptoms but does not provide a cure. Crohn's disease is often associated with remissions and relapses and often recurs following surgery. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by continuous inflammation confined to the large intestine. In the disease, the distal colon is most severely affected, and the rectum is involved in nearly all cases with inflammation limited primarily to the mucosa. Currently, no medical cure exists for ulcerative colitis, but effective medical treatment can suppress the inflammatory process, permit healing of the colon and relieve the symptoms.
Ulcerative colitis is potentially curable if the colon is removed.
Such an invasive procedure is generally an undesirable option for pediatric patients. Thus, primary treatment options employ medications that decrease the abnormal inflammation in the colon lining and consequently control the symptoms. At present, neither the etiology nor the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is known, although a multitude of theories exist. Much scientific attention has been directed towards investigation of infectious and immunological causes. Other possible contributing events to the development of this disorder include genetic, dietary, environmental and psychogenic factors.