Colitis is inflammation of the colon.
Signs & Symptoms
Abdominal cramping, diarrhea (potentially bloody), weight loss.
There are a variety of causes, which helps us to categorize colitis into types.
Ulcerative colitis
A chronic form of
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (the other is Crohn's disease).
Patients may experience periods of remission followed by relapse.
Ulcerative colitis is thought to be caused by an over active immune response in the large intestine, especially the rectum.
Pseudomembranous colitis
Characterized by the formation of a whitish-yellow pseudomembrane over the surface of the large intestine.
Typically caused by overgrowth of
C. difficile infection after antibiotic use.
Patients often experience diarrhea, fever, and leukocytosis.
Note that pseudomembranes may form in non-C. diff. colitis, too.
Ischemic colitis
Occurs when blood supply to the colon is impaired. For example, due to
atherosclerotic blockage, tumor, diabetes, or trauma.
Most commonly occurs in elderly people.
Signs and symptoms include left lower quadrant pain and rectal bleeding.
Treatment is supportive with IV fluids, bowel rest, and possibly antibiotics.
Microscopic colitis
Colon appears normal upon gross inspection, but microscopic inspection reveals inflammation, other abnormalities.
Includes collagenous & lymphocytic colitis.
Associated with autoimmune disorders.
Other causes of Colitis
