UC BLOG 

I strongly believe that the cause of Ulcerative Colitis is not the abnormality of Immune system  or Autoimmune disorder as is widely believed but a chronic imbalances in the microbial flora that set off a chain of pathogenic events. If it were abnormal Immune system than removing the colon by Colectomy would have not cured this Chronic condition.

A damaged intestinal mucosa triggers and perpetuates Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) by allowing a steady stream of antigens and toxins to continually confront the immune system. This imbalance of gut flora can be caused by bacterial microorganisms. 

There are four major groups of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa (a type of parasite). Disease microorganisms (most people call them germs) can be from any of these four categories.

1) Bacteria

Infectious causes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) generally have a more acute onset and run a shorter course than other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Bacterial organisms that can produce Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD include Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and some E. coli. Bacteria are a common cause of acute colitis. Viral causes include Norwalk-like virus and rotavirus (small bowel) as well as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus in immune compromised people. Other causes include chlamydial infection and amebiasis.

Bacteria are microscopic living things that have only one cell (unicellular) and are one of three shapes, rods, balls or spirals. Some bacteria cells exist as individuals while others cluster together to form pairs, chains, squares or other groupings. Vast numbers of bacteria live in, and on, our bodies. Some are beneficial. For example, some bacteria help us digest food, destroy disease-causing cells and give the body needed vitamins. 

There are other bacteria that can infect people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they include:

• Clostridium difficile - C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis, sepsis, and rarely, death. Symptoms include:
  • watery diarrhea (at least three bowel movements per day for two or more days)
  • fever
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea
  • abdominal pain/tenderness

  C. difficile is generally treated for 10 days with antibiotics prescribed by your healthcare provider, according to CDC. People in good health usually don't get C. difficile disease. People who have other illnesses or conditions requiring prolonged use of antibiotics and the elderly are at greater risk of acquiring this disease. The bacteria are found in the feces. People can become infected if they touch items or surfaces that are contaminated with feces and then touch their mouth or mucous membranes. Healthcare workers can spread the bacteria to other patients or contaminate surfaces through hand contact.

• Brucella - Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella. These bacteria are primarily passed among animals, according to CDC. Various Brucella species affect sheep, goats, cattle, deer, elk, pigs, dogs, and several other animals. Humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with these bacteria.

  In humans, brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms that are similar to the flu and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pains and physical weakness. Severe infections of the central nervous systems or lining of the heart may occur. Brucellosis can also cause long-lasting or chronic symptoms that include recurrent fevers, joint pain, and fatigue.

  Brucellosis is not very common in the United States, where100 to 200 cases occur each year. But brucellosis can be very common in countries where animal disease control programs have not reduced the amount of disease among animals.

  CDC says you should not consume unpasteurized milk, cheese, or ice cream while traveling. If you are not sure that the dairy product is pasteurized, don't eat it. There is no vaccine available for humans.

2) Viruses

Viruses are the most primitive of microorganisms and are much smaller than bacteria. A virus is basically a tiny bundle of genetic material carried in a shell called the viral coat or envelope. Viruses only exist to reproduce. To do that, they have to take over suitable host cells. They invade the cells and once inside, multiply, killing the host cells in the process. This is what makes you sick. Viruses are easily destroyed by disinfectants outside the body, but can be difficult to eliminate once infection has taken place. 

Some viruses that can make people sick, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include:

• Hantaviruses - are a group of viruses that are carried by rodents. One of them is found in deer mice in North America. That virus is the cause of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in people. Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings. HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS is potentially deadly. Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infection, according to CDC.
• Astroviruses - cause sporadic gastroenteritis in children under 4 years of age and account for about 4 percent of the children hospitalized for diarrhea. Most American children over 10 years of age have antibodies to the virus. 
• Enteric adenovirus - causes 5-20 percent of the gastroenteritis in young children, and is the second most common cause of gastroenteritis in this age group. By 4 years of age, 85 percent of all children have developed immunity to the disease.
• Parvo-like viruses - have been implicated in a number of shellfish-associated outbreaks. FDA says the frequency of disease caused by parvo-like viruses is unknown. FDA also says parvoviruses infect all age groups and probably do not generate a permanent immunity.

3) Fungi

There are many, many different kinds of fungi, but only a small number of them make us sick. A fungus is actually a primitive plant that is found in air, in soil, on plants and in water. Some common fungi include mushrooms, yeast, mold and mildew. The body normally hosts a variety of fungi. Some of these are useful to the body, but others may form infections. A fungal infection of humans is called a mycosis. Mycoses can affect skin, nails, hair and internal organs. 

Yeast infection (Candida albicans) can often be a major co-factor contributing to UC. The Candida organism normally grows in the gut, and its generation of toxins is exacerbated by sugars and simple carbohydrates. Infection can be partly controlled by minimizing estrogen (found in birth control pills and menopause relief drugs), and by severely limiting carbohydrates in the diet.  The growth of Candida is encouraged by antibacterial antibiotics, which kill the normal “good” intestinal bacterial flora that usually generate molecules that suppress the yeasts. 

Treatments for yeast sensitivity are directed at greatly reducing the size and extent of the colony. They start with intestinal cleanout as for a fiberoptic sigmoidoscope exam, followed by systemic long term antifungal (e.g., nystatin) and topical vaginal nystatin if applicable. Sometimes a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is induced, and ideally a physician skilled in the treatment of yeast infections should be controlling the treatment. 

 The Candida microbe can invade cells and live inside them. This makes it hard for antifungal drugs to fully eliminate a yeast colony. A permanent diet change is essential for control. Dietary guidelines to suppress Candida overgrowth include daily intake of garlic, omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed, fish oil), caprylic acid (liquid fatty acid found in butter and other fats and oils), and especially probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bifidus, Bifidobacteria bifidus, buttermilk, yogurt, etc. 

In another of its forms, C. albicans extends a microscopic tube that infiltrates the intestine lining and causes it to leak tiny particles of undigested food into the blood. This causes the so-called “leaky gut syndrome” leading to the generation of blood-borne immune complexes (IgG, IgE) specific to certain foods that cause allergic reaction. These immune complexes exacerbate the inflammation of other resident infections, aggravating RA, FMS, and other so-called autoimmune disorders. Inflammation is also sometimes seen at sites of past injuries, where bacterial infection may be latent and waiting for an opportune time to emerge.

 Gut inflammation by yeast may be complicated by other infections, such as milk-borne, heat resistant Micobacteria paratuberculosis, which is the cause of a Crohn’s disease look-alike infection called Jonne’s disease in dairy cattle with an epidemic dairy herd infection level at an estimated 15% to 20%. Other food/water borne bacterial gut co-infections may include Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, salmonella, certain pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, and Cryptosporidium.

4) Protozoa

Protozoa are a group of microscopic, single-celled animals. They can be free-living or parasitic in nature. While protozoa can be an important source of food for animals like snails, clams and sponges, they can also cause serious infections in humans. Protozoa can be transmitted to the body by eating contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, or through the bite of an insect like a mosquito or fly. While many protozoan infections are more common in the tropics and subtropics, they can also affect people in temperate zones as well. 

Imbalances of Essential Fatty Acids

Because certain infectious organisms produce symptoms very similar to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), testing for other possible causes, like parasites, is strongly recommended. Many Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) symptoms produced by chronic inflammatory immune response may be significantly reduced by addressing imbalances of essential fatty acids. Levels of zinc, iron, copper and other crucial minerals are often deficient in patients suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Allergic Immune Reactions to Food Particles

Allergic immune reactions to food particles may play an important role in the development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) symptoms. Low levels of important amino acids can cause aggravated inflammatory responses. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is also associated with malabsorption of nutrients. Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

No one is quite sure what triggers ulcerative colitis, but there's a consensus as to what doesn't. Researchers no longer believe that stress is the main culprit, although stress can often aggravate symptoms. Instead, current thinking focuses on the following possibilities:

• Immune system. Some scientists think a virus or bacterium may cause ulcerative colitis. The digestive tract becomes inflamed when your immune system tries to fight off the invading microorganism (pathogen). It's also possible that inflammation may stem from an autoimmune reaction in which your body mounts an immune response even though no pathogen is present.

• Heredity. Because you're more likely to develop ulcerative colitis if you have a parent or sibling with the disease, scientists suspect that genetic makeup may play a contributing role. Research into which genetic mutations might increase susceptibility to ulcerative colitis is ongoing.
  
• Food intolerance 
  
• Food allergy 
  
• Long term use of some medicines or antibiotics 
  
• A Bacteria or Viral infection 
  
• Excessive stress can also cause flare ups of colitis