Ulcerative Colitis
Also known as: Ulcerative colitis, unspecified · Colitis · Distal colitis · Pancolitis · Ulcerative proctitis · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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In short
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. The disease usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30, tends to run in families, and most commonly causes abdominal pain and blood or pus in diarrhea. Other symptoms may include anemia, severe tiredness, weight loss, loss of appetite, bleeding from the rectum, sores on the skin, joint pain, and growth failure in children. Doctors use blood tests, stool tests, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, and imaging tests to diagnose the condition, which can be controlled with several types of drugs. In severe cases, doctors must remove the colon.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease.
UC can happen at any age, but it usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It tends to run in families. The most common symptoms are pain in the abdomen and blood or pus in diarrhea. Other symptoms may include:
- Anemia
- Severe tiredness
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Sores on the skin
- Joint pain
- Growth failure in children
About half of people with UC have mild symptoms.
Doctors use blood tests, stool tests, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, and imaging tests to diagnose UC. Several types of drugs can help control it. Some people have long periods of remission, when they are free of symptoms. In severe cases, doctors must remove the colon.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Related terms in the cited sources
Medicines with an official indication for this condition
- Adalimumab Treatment
- Etrasimod Treatment
- Golimumab Treatment
- Guselkumab Treatment
- Infliximab Treatment
- Mirikizumab Treatment
- Ozanimod Treatment
- Risankizumab Treatment
- Upadacitinib Treatment
- Ustekinumab Treatment
- Vedolizumab Treatment
In alphabetical order.
Next to it in ICD-10
- K37Appendicitis (not specified)
- K38Other diseases of the appendix
- K50Crohn's Disease
- K52Other non-infectious gastroenteritis and colitis
- K56Bowel obstruction (ileus)
- K57Diverticular disease (diverticulosis and diverticulitis)
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Ulcerative Colitis?
K51 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Ulcerative Colitis?
DD71.Z: Ulcerative colitis, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA) — EPAR. © European Medicines Agency.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
About this page. This page brings together public information from official sources, each cited where it is used. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it does not tell you which treatment to take.
Treatments. Indications are quoted unchanged from official product information (European Medicines Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). They describe what a medicine is approved for, not whether it is right for you. Approved uses can differ between countries. Always read the package leaflet and follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice.
What people report. Figures marked "reported by Anpheros users" are anonymous counts from at least 20 people who agreed to share them. They show what people report, not what works, and they are not clinical evidence.
Links between terms. "May be associated with" means the link appears in a cited source. It does not mean you have that condition.
In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number). Do not delay seeking medical help because of something you read here.