Ulcerative Colitis diagnosed for the First Time in a 93 year old Nigerian Woman: A Case Report

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and life-long disease characterized by gastrointestinal tract inflammation caused by the  interplay of the host’s genetic predisposition, immune responses, and various environmental factors. It is characterized by chronic  diarrhea, among other symptoms. Its spectrum comprises Crohn’s disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and indeterminate colitis (IC). Inflammatory bowel disease occurs in two peaks, the first at 15-25 years, and the second at 40-60 years. It is rarely reported in the  extremes of age. Here we report the case of a 93-year-old woman with previously undiagnosed ulcerative colitis presenting as large  bowel obstruction.