Causes
- Autoimmune attack against the mucosal lining of the colon
- defective epithelial barrier
- genetic vulnerability
Symptoms
- Frequent bloody diarrhea with pus or mucus
- severe rectal urgency
- abdominal cramping
- unintended weight loss
Risk Factors
- Family history of inflammatory bowel disease
- onset between 15 and 30 years
- urban industrial lifestyle
- immune dysregulation
