Here are the symptoms, causes, risk factors, and complications of Colitis
COLITIS – This condition is described as the inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and it is a chronic digestive disease.
According to the article from GW Hospital, the possible causes of an inflamed colon are:
- infection
- loss of blood supply in the colon
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- invasion of the colon wall with collagen or lymphocytic white blood cells
A person may feel these symptoms:
- Intense pain
- Tenderness in the abdomen
- Depression
- Rapid weight loss
- Aches and pains in the joints
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Changes in bowel habits (increased frequency)
- Fever
- Swelling of the colon tissue
- Erythema (redness) of the surface of the colon
- Ulcers on the colon (in ulcerative colitis) which may bleed
- Mucus and/or blood in stool and rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea, which may occur, although some forms of colitis involve constipation so the stool and bowel movements may appear normal.
The patient may also feel these following signs:
- gas
- bloating
- indigestion
- heartburn
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- cramps
- bowel urgency and many other uncomfortable aches in the gastrointestinal system
Possible complications of colitis are:
- Bleeding with bowel movements
- Perforation of the colon
- Toxic megacolon
- Sore (ulceration)
This condition has risk factors such as:
- Perforation (rupture) of the bowel
- Fulminant colitis
- Toxic megacolon
- Increased risk of colorectal cancer
It is advised that you must consult a doctor immediately when you are experiencing abdominal pain that does not get better, blood in the stool or stools that look black, diarrhea or vomiting that does not go away, and swollen abdomen.
The doctor may conduct X-rays of the colon, testing the stool for blood and pus, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. For additional tests, the patient may undergo stool cultures and blood tests, including blood chemistry tests. When the condition is acute colitis, a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – a measure of how long it takes for red blood cells to settle in a blood sample may be conducted.
According to the article, here are the foods that triggered colitis in most of the patients:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Carbonated beverages
- Dairy products (if lactose intolerant)
- Dried beans, peas, legumes, dried fruits or berries
- Fruits with pulp or seeds
- Foods containing sulfur or sulfate
- Foods high in fiber (including whole-grained products)
- Hot sauces and spicy foods
- Meats
- Nuts and crunchy nut butters
- Popcorn
- Products containing sorbitol (sugar-free gum and candies)
- Raw vegetables
- Refined sugar
- Seeds
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