General Information about UC and treatment

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disorder in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) becomes inflamed (red and swollen) resulting in diarrhea, blood in the stool, and stomach cramps. Children of any age may develop UC and symptoms may range from very mild to very severe. Doctors make a diagnosis of UC by looking into the large intestine with a flexible tube with a light on the end (scope) and sampling tiny pieces (biopsies) to look at under the microscope. When children are diagnosed with UC they often have more severe and extensive disease than adults. The photographic panels show normal colon lining (top left), mild inflammation (top right), moderate inflammation (bottom left) and severe inflammation (bottom right).   More information or FAQs

Moderate inflammationNormal colon liningMild inflammationSevere inflammation