Introduction. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic ulcerative inflammatory disease affecting the
rectum and colon. It is the most common cryptogenic inflammatory bowel disease and it is
considered rare in black Africans. The aim of our work was to describe the clinical pattern of
ulcerative colitis at the University Hospital Center Yalgado Ouédraogo (CHU-YO). Patients
and methods. This was a descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study from April 1, 2006
to May 31 , 2019. All patients with a clinical profile suggestive of UC were included. Results.
Six patients were included (4 women and 2 men); their mean age was 32.6 years. For five
patients, the signs evolved for less than 5 years. Bloody diarrhoea or bloody mucoid diarrhoea
associated with abdominal pain were the most common symptoms. Abdominal exarnination was
normal in half of the cases. One patient had isolated rectal localisation while four patients had
recto-colic involvement. According to Truelove and Witts score, four patients had severe flares.
Histological analysis fou.nd association of lesions that was strongly suggestive of ulcerative
colitis. The clinical course of patients during treatment was generally favourable. Conclusion.
Although rare, ulcerative colitis is found in Burkina Faso. Diagnosis and management are
difficult in our practice.

Ulcerative colitis, diarrhoea, colonoscopy, anorectoscopy, Ouagadougou