One form of ulcerative colitis is pancolitis, which occurs when inflammation affects the entire colon. Treatments may include medication, surgery, or lifestyle changes.

Pancolitis means the entire colon is affected by inflammation, and it’s commonly associated with ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the lining of the large intestine. It occurs when inflammation causes ulcers, or sores, to develop in your colon and rectum.

Pancolitis accounts for up to 35% of ulcerative colitis diagnoses in the United States.

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for ulcerative colitis pancolitis.

What are the types of ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the large intestine. Pancolitis occurs when inflammation has spread throughout the colon.

Other types of ulcerative colitis include:

Learn more about the different types of ulcerative colitis.

Common symptoms of pancolitis are similar to those of other forms of ulcerative colitis. These may include:

  • frequent diarrhea
  • pain and cramps in the area of your stomach and abdomen
  • feeling a strong, frequent urge for bowel movements (tenesmus)

Pancolitis symptoms, however, are more aggressive and severe than those of other forms of ulcerative colitis. This may be because more of the colon is affected by inflammation and ulcers.

If you have pancolitis, you’re more likely to experience constitutional symptoms, which may affect your whole system. Constitutional symptoms may include:

Children with pancolitis may experience growth complications. It’s important to take your child to see a doctor immediately if they have any of the above symptoms.

Pancolitis flare-ups

Flare-ups are periods where symptoms reappear or worsen, while remission is when symptoms subside or disappear.

It’s often hard to distinguish between pancolitis flare-ups and general ulcerative colitis flares because no symptoms are specific to pancolitis flares.

However, if you have pancolitis, symptom flare-ups tend to be more pronounced and you’re less likely to go into remission.

Along with the symptoms mentioned above, you may also experience the following during pancolitis and ulcerative colitis flare-ups:

It’s not known what exactly causes pancolitis or other forms of UC.

However, researchers have identified several risk factors that may contribute to the condition’s development.

For instance, up to 14% of people with ulcerative colitis also have a family member with the condition.

Some researchers suggest ulcerative colitis may be an autoimmune disease. This is when the immune system mistakenly targets the colon while defending your body from bacteria or viruses, which may cause inflammation.

Other factors that may trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms include:

  • changes in your gut microbiome
  • eating certain foods, such as foods high in fiber, fat, and gluten
  • taking certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • environmental factors, such as stress, air pollution, and infection

In some cases, if you don’t get treatment for mild or moderate forms of UC, your condition can become worse and become a case of pancolitis.

A doctor will begin with a physical examination and medical history to get an idea of your overall health.

They’ll then order a stool sample and blood tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as bacterial or viral infections.

To confirm a diagnosis of pancolitis, a doctor will need to perform a colonoscopy. During this exam, they’ll insert a long, thin tube with a light and camera on the end into your anus to go examine the lining of your large intestine.

They may also take a biopsy of a tissue sample from your colon to test it for other infections or diseases.

Treatments for ulcerative colitis depend on the severity of the condition. Because pancolitis affects the whole colon, your treatment plan may be more intense than milder forms of ulcerative colitis.

The aim of treatment is to help relieve symptoms, achieve remission, and stop the progression of the disease.

Your treatment plan may include a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery.

Medications

The most common treatments for pancolitis and other forms of UC are anti-inflammatory drugs.

Some medications for ulcerative colitis may include:

Depending on the severity of your pancolitis, these medications may be administered orally or by injection.

Natural remedies

Some natural remedies and lifestyle changes may help relieve and prevent pancolitis symptoms. These may include:

Surgery

In very severe cases, you may need surgery to treat pancolitis.

A surgeon may recommend a colectomy. In this procedure, a surgeon will remove your colon to create a new pathway for your bodily waste to exit your body.

This surgery is the only cure for pancolitis and other forms of ulcerative colitis and is usually only a last resort.

Pancolitis is a chronic condition, although most people experience symptoms in highs and lows.

If left untreated, potential complications of pancolitis and other forms of ulcerative colitis may include:

The best way to prevent complications is to follow your treatment plan, avoid potential triggers, and get frequent checkups.

What is the cause of pancolitis?

The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown.

However, risk factors for pancolitis in ulcerative colitis may include a high inflammatory score on colonoscopy, young age at the time of diagnosis, presence of extraintestinal manifestations, using corticosteroids and antibiotics, and the extent of disease at the time of diagnosis.

What foods trigger colitis?

Food triggers for colitis will vary for each person, and many people may not experience symptoms after eating.

Common food triggers may include high fiber foods, fatty, greasy, and spicy foods, gluten, dairy, nuts, seeds, sugar alcohols, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages.

Pancolitis is a form of ulcerative colitis where inflammation affects the whole colon.

Symptoms may include diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, and unexplained weight loss. Symptoms may also be more severe than other forms of ulcerative colitis.

If you experience symptoms, speak with a healthcare professional. They could provide a proper diagnosis and develop a treatment plan for you.