Introduction
Colitis is an acute or long duration inflammation of the membrane lining the colon (your large intestine or bowels) creating sores, called ulcers, in the upper layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be identified using flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these tests, a flexible tube is inserted in the rectum, and specific areas of the colon are evaluated. Colitis may be acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic (lasting weeks or even many months) and may result in bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best treated when its cause has been determine and specific treatments can be used.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal flatulence, and bloody stools and can return in up to 20% of people with this disorder, thus requiring treatment with antibiotics to be repeated. Colitis can be difficult to make a diagnosis because its symptoms are liken to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn disease (also called Crohn's disease). The 2 most common signs are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About half of the people diagnosed with the disease have moderate symptoms. It is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some persons. The stress of living with colitis may also bring about a worsening of symptoms. Some people have remissions periods when the symptoms leave for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person must be hospitalized.
Treatment
Treatment for colitis depends on the severity of the disease and typical begins with prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, such as mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to reduce swelling. Treatment may also encompass taking nutritional supplements to resturn normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Therapy is directed at the underlying cause of the disease, whether it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other causes. The intent is to control the inflammation, diminish symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients. Treatment varies depending upon which parts of the colon are involved. Each of us experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for each 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 patients health.
If you are already under going treatment for inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, contact your doctor if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your stools. Also see your doctor if you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting longer than 3 days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, Frequent loose bowel movements while pregnant, More than 1 other person who shared food with you who has symptoms like yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your stool, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen. You should go to the hospital's Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in people diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young person, Progression or appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your stool along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your doctor will consider the possible causes of your colitis and any complications that need urgent therapy.
Conclusion
Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that can be brought on by many different disease processes and is generally found in younger people, before they reach age 30. Up to two million citizens in the US are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish people tend to have more incidences of the disease than non-Jewish people. It affects both men and women equally and appears to run in families, with reports of up to 20% of people with the disease having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with people of Jewish descent a higher incidence is also diagnose in Whites. People with this disease often have abnormalities of the immune system, but MDs do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having the disease.
Many tests are utilized 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. Sometimes x rays using a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There's no proven cure for it, but therapies are available that may dramatically lessen the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your MD will decide which tests you need based on your signs, medical history, and clinical findings.
Colitis is an acute or long duration inflammation of the membrane lining the colon (your large intestine or bowels) creating sores, called ulcers, in the upper layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be identified using flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these tests, a flexible tube is inserted in the rectum, and specific areas of the colon are evaluated. Colitis may be acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic (lasting weeks or even many months) and may result in bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best treated when its cause has been determine and specific treatments can be used.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal flatulence, and bloody stools and can return in up to 20% of people with this disorder, thus requiring treatment with antibiotics to be repeated. Colitis can be difficult to make a diagnosis because its symptoms are liken to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn disease (also called Crohn's disease). The 2 most common signs are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About half of the people diagnosed with the disease have moderate symptoms. It is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some persons. The stress of living with colitis may also bring about a worsening of symptoms. Some people have remissions periods when the symptoms leave for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person must be hospitalized.
Treatment
Treatment for colitis depends on the severity of the disease and typical begins with prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, such as mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to reduce swelling. Treatment may also encompass taking nutritional supplements to resturn normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Therapy is directed at the underlying cause of the disease, whether it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other causes. The intent is to control the inflammation, diminish symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients. Treatment varies depending upon which parts of the colon are involved. Each of us experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for each 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 patients health.
If you are already under going treatment for inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, contact your doctor if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your stools. Also see your doctor if you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting longer than 3 days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, Frequent loose bowel movements while pregnant, More than 1 other person who shared food with you who has symptoms like yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your stool, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen. You should go to the hospital's Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in people diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young person, Progression or appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your stool along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your doctor will consider the possible causes of your colitis and any complications that need urgent therapy.
Conclusion
Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that can be brought on by many different disease processes and is generally found in younger people, before they reach age 30. Up to two million citizens in the US are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish people tend to have more incidences of the disease than non-Jewish people. It affects both men and women equally and appears to run in families, with reports of up to 20% of people with the disease having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with people of Jewish descent a higher incidence is also diagnose in Whites. People with this disease often have abnormalities of the immune system, but MDs do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having the disease.
Many tests are utilized 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. Sometimes x rays using a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There's no proven cure for it, but therapies are available that may dramatically lessen the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your MD will decide which tests you need based on your signs, medical history, and clinical findings.
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Ricardo Henri is the owner of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a site with a wealth of information about caring foryour health without relying on medications and unneeded surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ natural remedies treatments cures
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