Ulcerative colitis is not a fatal illness, but it is a lifelong illness. Most people with ulcerative colitis continue to lead normal, useful, and productive lives, even though they may need to take medications every day, and occasionally need to be hospitalized.

What are the chances of dying from ulcerative colitis?

It affects up to 10 percent of people with ulcerative colitis. Death rates from toxic megacolon range from 19 percent to 45 percent. The risk of death is higher if the intestine ruptures and it isn't treated right away.

What is end stage ulcerative colitis?

End-stage or “burned-out” ulcerative colitis is characterized by shortening of the colon, loss of normal redundancy in the sigmoid region and at the splenic and hepatic flexures, disappearance of the haustral pattern, a featureless mucosa, absence of discrete ulceration, and narrowed caliber of the bowel.