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Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

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Get answers to your Inflammatory Bowel Disease questions.

Dr. Cross’s Bio | Q&A Archive

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

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Ulcerative colitis - Prevention

Alternative Names

Inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis

Prevention:

Because the cause is unknown, prevention is also unknown.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may make symptoms worse.

Due to the risk of colon cancer associated with ulcerative colitis, screening with colonoscopy is recommended.

The American Cancer Society recommends having your first screening:

  • 8 years after you are diagnosed with severe disease, or when most of, or the entire, large intestine is involved
  • 12 - 15 years after diagnosis when only the left side of the large intestine is involved

Have follow-up examinations every 1 - 2 years.

  • Reviewed last on: 2/20/2008
  • Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Graham L. AGA reviews the use of corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and infliximab in IBD. Am Fam Physician. 2007;75:410-412.

Moyer MS. Chronic ulcerative colitis in childhood. J Pediatr. 2006;148:325.

Langan RC. Ulcerative colitis: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76:1323-1330.

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