Introduction
Colitis (also called ulcerative colitis) is a sharp 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 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 can be acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic (many lasting weeks or even months) and may produce bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best managed when its cause has been determine and specific treatment can be applied.
Symptoms
Symptoms may encompass abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, 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 tough to identify because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal problems such as ibs and Crohn disease (also called Crohn's disease). The two most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About 1/2 of the people diagnosed with the disease have mild signs. It is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to a particular food or a particular food product, but these factors might trigger symptoms in some people. The stress of living with colitis may also contribute to a worsening of symptoms. A number people have remissions periods when the symptoms go away and stay away for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person has to 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 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 MD if you have any of these problems: Diarrhea lasting more than three days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urinating, Frequent loose bowel movements during pregnancy, 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 signs 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 large intestine that can be caused by many different disease processes and is usually found in younger persons, before they reach age 30. Up to 2 million people in the United States are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish persons tend to have more incidences of of the disease than non-Jewish. It affects men and women equally and seems to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of individuals 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 found in Whites. People with this disease routinely have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know if 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 (also called ulcerative colitis) is a sharp 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 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 can be acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic (many lasting weeks or even months) and may produce bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best managed when its cause has been determine and specific treatment can be applied.
Symptoms
Symptoms may encompass abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, 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 tough to identify because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal problems such as ibs and Crohn disease (also called Crohn's disease). The two most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About 1/2 of the people diagnosed with the disease have mild signs. It is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to a particular food or a particular food product, but these factors might trigger symptoms in some people. The stress of living with colitis may also contribute to a worsening of symptoms. A number people have remissions periods when the symptoms go away and stay away for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person has to 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 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 MD if you have any of these problems: Diarrhea lasting more than three days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urinating, Frequent loose bowel movements during pregnancy, 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 signs 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 large intestine that can be caused by many different disease processes and is usually found in younger persons, before they reach age 30. Up to 2 million people in the United States are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish persons tend to have more incidences of of the disease than non-Jewish. It affects men and women equally and seems to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of individuals 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 found in Whites. People with this disease routinely have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know if 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.
About the Author:
Ricardo Henri is the owner of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a website containing a wealth of information concerning caring foryour health containingout relying on drugs and unneeded surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ natural remedies treatments cures
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