Causes and Risks:

Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that is caused by many different disease processes, including acute and chronic infections, primary inflammatory disorders (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s colitis, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis), lack of blood flow (ischemic colitis), and history of radiation to the large bowel.

Prevention:

Prevention depends upon the underlying cause of colitis. See the specific entities.

Symptoms:

Symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea,dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, and bloody stools.

Signs and Tests:

Colitis may be identified on flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (a flexible tube is inserted in the rectum and the colon is evaluated) and biopsies may show changes of inflammation.

Other studies that can identify colitis include:

• Barium enema
• Abdominal CT scan
• Abdominal MRI
• Abdominal X-ray

Treatment:

Treatment is directed at the underlying cause of disease whether it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, etc.

See the individual entities for specific recommendations.

Prognosis:

The prognosis varies with each disease state, and thus depends upon the underlying disease.

Complications:

Colitis may result in bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon), or toxic megacolon.

Call your health care provider for symptoms of abdominal pain, abdominal distention, or blood in the stool.