Colitis: Fast Facts
Reviewed By:
David Friedel, M.D., AGA
- Inflammatory bowel disease is chronic inflammation of the
digestive tract.
- In people with inflammatory bowel disease, tissue lining the
mouth, stomach, esophagus, intestines or anus can become red,
swollen and bleed.
- Inflammatory bowel disease is called colitis when it occurs in
the large intestine.
- Men and women appear to be at equal risk of developing
colitis.
- The cause of colitis is unknown. It appears to involve an
overactive immune system that continues to attack healthy tissue
after first being stimulated to fight a harmful substance.
- Abdominal pain, cramping and bloody diarrhea are common
symptoms of colitis.
- The two primary types of inflammatory bowel disease are Crohn's
disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Crohn's disease can occur anywhere along the digestive tract
and can irritate all layers of tissue in the wall lining.
- Ulcerative colitis occurs only in the large intestine, usually
starting in the rectum, and affects only the inner intestinal
lining.
- Once it appears, colitis is a lifelong disease.
- Colitis occurs primarily in the United States and Europe and
among young people more often than in the elderly.
- White people are at greater risk for colitis than people of
other races, and people with Jewish ethnic backgrounds have a
higher risk than non-Jews.
- Colitis also appears to run in families.
- An initial physical examination may include a medical history,
blood tests and stool tests.
- Colitis is most common diagnosed with a barium x-ray or
colonoscopy.
- A barium x-ray involves ingesting a chalky liquid that helps
organs show up clearly on x-rays.
- A colonoscopy involves inserting a small, flexible tube through
the anus and into the colon.
- Biopsies and color images can be taken during a
colonoscopy.
- Complications of colitis include anemia, intestinal blockage or
abscesses and an increased risk of colon cancer.
- Medications such as aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and
immunosuppressives can help treat the symptoms of colitis and keep
the disease in remission.
- Hospitalization may be required to treat colitis patients who
are severely malnourished, dehydrated or have experienced massive
blood loss.
- Surgery may be necessary to treat cancer, when intestinal
obstructions or perforations exist, or when medicines fail to
work.
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