Introduction
Colitis (sometimes called ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining your large intestine or bowels producing sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be diagnosed with flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these examinations, a flexible tube is placed in the rectum, and specific areas of the colon are examined. Colitis may be acute (continuing for only a handful of days) or chronic (lasting weeks or even many months) and may cause bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best managed when its reason has been diagnosed and specific treatment can be utilized.
Symptoms
Symptoms can encompass abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, and bloody stools and can repeat in up to 20% of those with this problem, thus requiring treatment with drugs to be repeated. Colitis can be difficult to diagnose since its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders such as IBS and Crohn disease (also called Crohn's disease). The 2 most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About 1/2 of the people diagnosed with the disease have mild symptoms. It is not produced by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food items, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some individuals. The stress of living with colitis may also contribute to a worsening of symptoms. Some individuals have remissions, periods when the symptoms go away, that last for months or even years. Sometimes, symptoms are severe enough that a person must be hospitalized.
Treatment
Treatment for colitis is dependent on the severity of the disease and usually begins with prescription anti-inflammatory medications, such as mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to decrease swelling. Treatment may also include taking nutritional supplements to produce normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Therapy is aimed at the underlying cause of the disease, whether it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other reasons. The aim is to control the inflammation, diminished symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients.
Treatment can vary depending upon which regions of the colon are involved. Each patient experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for every individual. Sometimes the MD will suggest removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other drugs threaten the individuals health. If you are already under treatment for inflammatory bowel disease or IBS, contact your MD if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your stools.
Also see your health care provider should you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting more than three days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, abnormal loose bowel movements during pregnancy, More than 1 other individual who shared food with you who has symptoms like yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your feces, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen.
You should check into the hospital's Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in persons diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young person, Progressive appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your stool along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your MD will consider the possible causes of your colitis and any complications that require urgent treatment.
Conclusion
Colitis is an inflammation of the bowels that can be produced by many different disease processes and is routinely found in younger persons, before they reach age thirty. Up to 2 million individuals in the United States are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish people tend to have more incidence of of the disease than non-Jewish people. Colitis affects men and women equally and seems to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of those with the illness having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with persons of Jewish descent a higher incidence is also seen in Whites. Individuals with this disease frequently have abnormalities of the immune system, but physicians do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having Colitis.
Many tests are utiized to diagnose the disease. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the most accurate tests for making a diagnosis and ruling out other possible conditions, such as Crohns disease, diverticular disease, or cancer. Often x rays using a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There's no recognized cure for it, but therapies are available that may drastically reduce the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your Physician will decide which tests you need based on your symptoms, medical history, and clinical findings.
Colitis (sometimes called ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining your large intestine or bowels producing sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be diagnosed with flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these examinations, a flexible tube is placed in the rectum, and specific areas of the colon are examined. Colitis may be acute (continuing for only a handful of days) or chronic (lasting weeks or even many months) and may cause bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best managed when its reason has been diagnosed and specific treatment can be utilized.
Symptoms
Symptoms can encompass abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, and bloody stools and can repeat in up to 20% of those with this problem, thus requiring treatment with drugs to be repeated. Colitis can be difficult to diagnose since its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders such as IBS and Crohn disease (also called Crohn's disease). The 2 most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About 1/2 of the people diagnosed with the disease have mild symptoms. It is not produced by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food items, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some individuals. The stress of living with colitis may also contribute to a worsening of symptoms. Some individuals have remissions, periods when the symptoms go away, that last for months or even years. Sometimes, symptoms are severe enough that a person must be hospitalized.
Treatment
Treatment for colitis is dependent on the severity of the disease and usually begins with prescription anti-inflammatory medications, such as mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to decrease swelling. Treatment may also include taking nutritional supplements to produce normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Therapy is aimed at the underlying cause of the disease, whether it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other reasons. The aim is to control the inflammation, diminished symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients.
Treatment can vary depending upon which regions of the colon are involved. Each patient experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for every individual. Sometimes the MD will suggest removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other drugs threaten the individuals health. If you are already under treatment for inflammatory bowel disease or IBS, contact your MD if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your stools.
Also see your health care provider should you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting more than three days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, abnormal loose bowel movements during pregnancy, More than 1 other individual who shared food with you who has symptoms like yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your feces, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen.
You should check into the hospital's Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in persons diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young person, Progressive appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your stool along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your MD will consider the possible causes of your colitis and any complications that require urgent treatment.
Conclusion
Colitis is an inflammation of the bowels that can be produced by many different disease processes and is routinely found in younger persons, before they reach age thirty. Up to 2 million individuals in the United States are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish people tend to have more incidence of of the disease than non-Jewish people. Colitis affects men and women equally and seems to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of those with the illness having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with persons of Jewish descent a higher incidence is also seen in Whites. Individuals with this disease frequently have abnormalities of the immune system, but physicians do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having Colitis.
Many tests are utiized to diagnose the disease. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the most accurate tests for making a diagnosis and ruling out other possible conditions, such as Crohns disease, diverticular disease, or cancer. Often x rays using a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There's no recognized cure for it, but therapies are available that may drastically reduce the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your Physician will decide which tests you need based on your symptoms, medical history, and clinical findings.
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