Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease that affects the colon or large intestine and can cause inflammation, ulcers, bleeding and bowel perforation. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include frequent diarrhea, possibly blood diarrhea and intense abdominal pain. A number of tests may be used to help doctors rule out other diseases and make an ulcerative colitis diagnosis.
Physician History and Physical
The first step is to meet with a doctor who can review the medical history, evaluate symptoms and determine what tests would be needed to test for ulcerative colitis. Doctor's will also use the tests to rule out other gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer or infections.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can be used to determine if anemia is present, which could be the result of chronic blood loss from bleeding in the colon from ulcerative colitis. Blood tests can also measure the amount of white blood cells to see if there is an infection or inflammation present.
Stool Tests
Stool tests may be used to determine if diarrhea is truly a symptom of ulcerative colitis or if it is the result of a virus, parasite or bacterial infection. Stool tests can also be used to see if there are white blood cells or blood present in the stool.
Visual Evaluation
A sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy test may be used to view the colon and check for signs of disease like ulcers, bleeding or inflammation. Doctors may also take scrape a small tissue sample of the colon so the tissue can be viewed under a microscope.
Barium Enema X-Ray
An x-ray may be used to help diagnose the disease since it can be used to take a picture of the colon. Barium, which is a white, chalky, radioactive substance, may be used in the colon because it improves the x-ray picture clarity.
