Ulcerative colitis: A recurrent acute and chronic disorder characterized by extensive inflammatory ulceration in the colon, chiefly of the mucosa and submucosa. The etiology is unknown; hence, the term idiopathic is used in reference to ulcerative colitis. The disorder is not always limited to pathologic changes in the colon, but may become systemic, involving the joints and causing migratory arthritis, sacroileitis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Other organs that can become involved are the liver, skin, and eyes.

The patient with ulcerative colitis suffers from attacks of bloody, mucoid diarrhea. These acute attacks can last for days, weeks, or even months and are followed by periods of remission that can extend from a few weeks to several decades. Some patients experience relatively few attacks throughout their lifetime, while others have frequent, prolonged, and potentially serious attacks that predispose the colon to malignant changes.

A serious sequela of long-term chronic and continuous ulcerative colitis is carcinoma of the colon. The risk for this complication is lower for those persons who have infrequent relapses than for those who are symptomatic for years.

There is no cure for ulcerative colitis.
 

excerpted from: Encyclopedia & Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Allied Health, 1997

Colitis sufferers often report that certain foods aggravate their condition; however, this is not the same across the board. For instance, George has become lactose intolerant and intolerant of animal fats to a large degree - he could eat cheese, though he would dearly have loved to. Other people with colitis have no problem eating cheese, but may have problems with other foods.