Diseases beginning with U
U.S.-focused summaries with current official guidance links. For a diagnosis, personal vaccine schedule, pregnancy advice, or urgent symptoms, speak with a qualified clinician.
Ulcerative Colitis
No vaccine availableDisease
A chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine.
Symptoms
Diarrhea, blood or mucus in stool, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramps, urgency, and a feeling of needing a bowel movement even when the bowel is empty. Severe disease may cause fever, fatigue, nausea, or weight loss.
Typical duration
Ulcerative colitis is lifelong and typically alternates between flares and remission. Remission may last weeks or years, while flare duration varies with disease severity and response to treatment.
How serious is it?
Severe flares can cause dehydration, heavy bleeding, toxic megacolon, or bowel perforation and may require hospitalization. Long-standing disease can increase colorectal-cancer risk.
Treatment & management
Medicines reduce inflammation and induce or maintain remission; options include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids for selected flares, immunosuppressants, biologics, and small-molecule medicines. Surgery to remove the colon and rectum can treat disease that is severe, complicated, or uncontrolled.
Vaccine: who and when?
No vaccine prevents ulcerative colitis. People taking immune-suppressing medicines may need an individualized schedule of routine vaccines; live vaccines may be unsuitable during some treatments, so clinicians should review timing.
Last reviewed against official U.S. sources: September 5, 2026. This page provides general education, not medical advice.