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'Colitis' is a digestive disease characterized by inflammation of the colon.

Contents

Signs and symptoms

Types

Treatment

External links

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of colitis include pain, tenderness in the abdomen, fever, swelling of the colon tissue, bleeding, erythema (redness) of the surface of the colon, rectal bleeding, and ulcerations of the colon. Common tests which reveal these signs include X-rays of the colon, testing the stool for blood and pus, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Additional tests include stool cultures and blood tests, including blood chemistry tests. A high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is one typical finding in acute exacerbations of colitis.

Types

Types of colitis include ulcerative colitis, Crohn's colitis, diversion colitis, ischemic colitis, infectious colitis, fulminant colitis, chemical colitis, microscopic colitis, lymphocytic colitis, and atypical colitis.
A well-known subtype of infectious colitis is pseudomembranous colitis, which results from infection by a toxigenic strain of ''Clostridium difficile''. Parasitic infections can also cause colitis.
Any colitis with a rapid downhill clinical course is known as fulminant colitis. In addition to the diarrhea, fever, and anemia seen in colitis, the patient has severe abdominal pain and presents a clinical picture similar to that of septicemia, where shock is present. Approximately half of these patients require surgery. In severe cases, the nose, eyes, and ears will enlarge due to increased pain in the intestines, usually at an early age, as well as some muscle tendons. This causes the said parts to work more than they're meant to work, causing better given results of over 35%. If not treated properly, this can shorten the lifespan of the individual.
Irritable bowel syndrome, a separate disease, has been called spastic colitis or spastic colon. This name causes confusion, since colitis is not a feature of irritable bowel syndrome.

Treatment

Treatment of colitis may include the administration of antibiotics and general anti-inflammatory medications such as Mesalamine or its derivatives, steroids, or one of a number of other drugs that ameliorate inflammation. Surgery is sometimes needed, especially in cases of fulminant colitis. Surgery usually entails removing the colon and bowel and creating a "pouch" with portions of the small intestine.
Changes in diet can be effective at treating the symptoms of colitis and easing the side effects. These can include reducing the intake of carbohydrates, lactose products, soft drinks and caffeine. This approach has been championed by Elaine Gottschall.
Infliximab (or REMICADE) - a drug originally produced to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis - has recently been approved for the treatment of Colitis where traditional treatments have failed. REMICADE is a biologic therapy that recognizes, attaches to, and blocks the action of a protein in your body called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is made by certain blood cells in your body. It is administered through a series of infusions.

External links

★ Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada

★ Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

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ColitisBlog.com is an information portal for Colitis sufferers.