Information Sourced from http://medlineplus.gov/
The below information is created by a national medical institution, www.dannyboome.tv, Danny Boome or Crash Bang Boome Productions are not qualified medical experts, this information has been posted only as a resource! The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 (USA) 999 (UK) for all medical emergencies.
What is Colitis? Colitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large intestine (colon).
Causes
Colitis can have many different causes, including:
- Acute and chronic infections, including food poisoning
- Inflammatory disorders (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s colitis, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Lack of blood flow (ischemic colitis)
- Past radiation to the large bowel
For more information about a specific type of colitis see:
- CMV colitis (a viral infection of the colon)
- Crohn’s disease (regional enteritis)
- Cryptosporidium enterocolitis
- Ischemic colitis
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Pseudomembranous colitis
- Ulcerative colitis
Symptoms
Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal pain that is constant or comes and goes
- Bloody stools
- Chills
- Constant urge to have a bowel movement
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Increased intestinal gas
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms, including:
- How long you have had the symptoms
- How severe your pain is
- How often it occurs
- How long it lasts
- How often you have diarrhea
- Whether you have been traveling
The health care provider can diagnose colitis by inserting a flexible tube into the rectum (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) and evaluating specific areas of the colon. Biopsies taken during these tests may show changes related to inflammation.
Other studies that can identify colitis include:
Treatment
Treatment is directed at the cause of disease (infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or another cause).
See the conditions listed above for specific recommendations.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The prognosis varies with each disease. See particular conditions listed above.
Possible Complications
- Bleeding
- Hole in the colon
- Toxic megacolon
- Sore (ulceration)
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain that does not get better
- Blood in the stool or stools that look black
- Diarrhea or vomiting that does not go away
- Swollen (distended) abdomen
Prevention
Prevention depends upon the cause of colitis. See the specific condition.
Update Date: 10/13/2009
Updated by: George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
 |
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC’s accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.’s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). |
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only — they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2010, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
