a type of IBD that characteristically involves diffuse inflammation of the colonic mucosa, especially the rectum, but also variable lengths of the colon, in a relapsing, remitting course
considered a multifactorial polygenic disease, as the exact aetiology is still unknown but includes environmental factors, immune dysfunction, and genetic predisposition
common - bloody diarrhoea, chronic diarrhoea (or both), lower abdominal pain, faecal urgency, and extra-intestinal manifestations, particularly those related to activity of the colitis.
Diagnosis requires endoscopy with biopsy and -ve stool culture.
Relapses are often associated with pathogens,hence stool should be obtained for culture.