What is Colitis?
Colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which causes an inflammation
of the colon (the large intestine). There are several types of colitis, including
ulcerative colitis, infectious colitis, Crohn's colitis and many others.
Ulcerative colitis differs from another inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's
disease. Crohn's can affect any area of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including
the small intestine. Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon. The inflammation
usually involves the entire rectum and extends up the colon in a continuous manner.
There are no areas of normal intestine between the areas of diseased intestine.
In contrast, such so-called "skip" areas may occur in Crohn's disease. Ulcerative
colitis affects only the innermost lining of the colon, whereas Crohn's disease
can affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
disease are different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder that affects
the motility (muscle contractions) of the colon. Sometimes called "spastic colon,"
IBS is not characterized by intestinal inflammation. It is, therefore, a much less
serious disease than ulcerative colitis. IBS bears no direct relationship to either
ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
What are the symptoms of Colitis?
The first symptom of colitis is a progressive loosening of the stool. The stool
is generally bloody and can be associated with crampy abdominal pain and severe
urgency to have a bowel movement. The diarrhea may begin slowly or quite suddenly.
In addition, there may be skin lesions, pains in the joints and, in children, failure
to grow properly.
How is Colitis diagnosed?
Physicians diagnose colitis based on patients' clinical history, as described above.
The first goal of medical tests is to differentiate colitis from infection causes
of diarrhea. Accordingly, stool tests are performed to eliminate the possibility
of bacterial, viral, and parasitic causes of diarrhea. Following this, the patient
generally undergoes an evaluation of the colon, using one of two tests. To perform
a sigmoidoscopy, the doctor passes a flexible instrument into the rectum and lower
colon. This test allows the doctor to visualize the extent and degree of inflammation
in these areas. A total colonoscopy is a similar exam, which visualizes the entire
colon. Using these techniques, your physician can determine the category of disease.
The investigation physician may take samples of the colon lining, called biopsies,
and send these to a pathologist for further study.
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc., has regional and local chapters.
It provides free educational materials, as well as educational activities, through
local chapters in most parts of the country. The foundation may be found here.
Colitis
For a free case evaluation, please call 1-800-404-9281 or contact us here.
Have you or a member of your family developed a serious medical condition such as:
| • Inflammatory Bowel Disease | • Crohn's Disease | • Ulcerative Colitis | • Colitis |
| • Abdominal Pain | • Rectal Bleeding | • Proctitis | • Pancolitis |
| • Pan-Ulcerative Colitis | • Pan-Proctitis | • Ileitis |
While being treated with ACCUTANE or shortly thereafter? If so, please contact
us for more information.