What are the current guidelines for the management of mild to moderate Ulcerative Colitis in primary care?

In primary care, management of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis involves excluding alternative causes for symptoms such as infection or drug effects, and managing symptoms accordingly ¹.

For mild to moderate disease, treatment options include topical aminosalicylates for proctitis or left-sided colitis, and oral aminosalicylates, possibly combined with topical therapy, to induce remission ¹.

If remission is not achieved within 4 weeks, consider adding a time-limited course of corticosteroids, either topical or oral ¹.

Management also includes advising on diet, hydration, and symptom management, and seeking specialist advice if symptoms persist or worsen ¹.

In cases of recurrent flares, primary care should refer to specialist services for further assessment and management, including consideration of escalation to immunomodulators or biological therapies as appropriate ¹.