Colitis is the inflammation of the lining of the colon. Many different conditions can cause this to happen. These include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are both types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The
Types and causes of colitis may differ, but most symptoms overlap. How the condition affects an individual varies from person to person.
This article will discuss the different types of colitis. It will also look at the causes and risk factors, as well as when to contact a doctor.
Colitis refers to inflammation within the lining of the colon. This can occur due to several different conditions. The
With colitis, the lining of the colon becomes inflamed as a reaction to harmless bacteria and molecules present in food.
Colitis is often a lifelong condition, and there is currently no cure. However, there are treatment options available to help manage the condition.
Colitis typically develops when people are within the age brackets of 15–35 years or 55–70 years.
Ulcerative colitis is the
People with chronic ulcerative colitis may experience episodes of acute severe colitis during their lifetime.
Acute severe ulcerative colitis is a condition that can be life threatening and almost always requires hospitalization to balance out fluids and electrolytes and, in some cases, to obtain nutritional support.
Although most people do not experience extreme flare-ups, an estimated
Learn more about ulcerative colitis here.
Some types of ulcerative colitis include:
Ulcerative proctitis
This type of colitis is limited to the rectum. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation note that there is not an increased risk of cancer.
Symptoms of ulcerative proctitis can include:
- rectal pain
- urgent bowel movements
- rectal bleeding
Left sided colitis
Inflammation begins at the rectum and continues along the left side of the colon. It can also include proctosigmoiditis, which affects the rectum and lower part of the colon above the rectum, or the sigmoid colon.
Symptoms of left sided colitis may include:
- weight loss
- appetite loss
- pain on the left side of the abdomen
- bloody diarrhea
Extensive colitis
This condition affects most of the colon. In the case of pancolitis, it affects all of the colon.
Symptoms of extensive colitis include:
- weight loss
- appetite loss
- bloody diarrhea
- abdominal pain
Causes
Ulcerative colitis can occur due to:
- genetics
- atypical immune reactions
- the microbiome of the digestive tract
- environment
Crohn’s colitis is one of several types of Crohn’s disease. Unlike other variations of the condition, Crohn’s colitis only affects the colon.
Symptoms overlap between Crohn’s conditions, but people with Crohn’s colitis are more likely to develop skin lesions and joint pain.
Some other symptoms include:
- rectal bleeding
- diarrhea
- abscesses, fistulas, and ulcers around the anus
Causes
Crohn’s colitis may occur due to:
- genetics
- an autoimmune reaction
- smoking
- the gut microbiome
- some medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
A healthcare professional can only see microscopic colitis with a microscope.
There are
With the lymphocytic type, there is a higher number of white blood cells than usual, and the lining of the colon is of a normal thickness.
With the collagenous type, the layer of collagen under the epithelium is thicker than usual.
The symptoms of each type are similar. A person will typically experience watery diarrhea that does not contain blood.
Some other signs and symptoms include:
- abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating
- weight loss
- fecal incontinence
- dehydration
- strong urges to have a bowel movement
Causes
Microscopic colitis may occur due to:
Autoimmune conditions
In these cases, a person’s immune system attacks its own cells. Autoimmune conditions that may be a cause include:
- celiac disease
- Hashimoto’s disease
- Graves’ disease
- rheumatoid arthritis
- psoriasis
Medications
Medications that may be associated with microscopic colitis include:
- NSAIDs, such as aspirin
- acarbose
- lansoprazole
- sertraline
- ranitidine
- ticlopidine
Infections
Bacterial and viral infections may cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Bile acid malabsorption
Bile acid is a fluid that helps carry waste out of the body.
Bile acid malabsorption occurs when the intestines are unable to reabsorb the bile acid. If it reaches the colon, it can lead to diarrhea.
Another type of colitis is ischemic colitis. It occurs due to a reduced blood flow to the colon.
A person may experience abdominal cramping and pain. Within
Other ischemic colitis symptoms include:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- bloating
An older
- gangrenous
- stricturing
- transient
Most people have the transient type, which causes milder symptoms, but some have the gangrenous type.
Gangrenous ischemic colitis is particularly severe. People with this condition are likely to require surgical intervention when symptoms appear.
Learn more about ischemic colitis here.
Cause
Ischemic colitis occurs due to a lack of blood flow to the colon. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as heart disease and other conditions that affect blood flow.
Pseudomembranous colitis is usually the result of Clostridium difficile bacteria.
These bacteria are always present in the body, but there are usually enough “good” bacteria to override them.
When these good bacteria die, often after a person has taken antibiotics, the presence of C. difficile increases, causing inflammation in the colon.
Cause
Pseudomembranous colitis can occur due to taking medications that destroy healthy bacteria, such as antibiotics.
Colitis can also come from conditions that are not related to IBD. One of these is cytomegalovirus (CMV), which is a common strain of the herpes virus.
One
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- fever
- rectal bleeding
- weight loss
- feelings of discomfort
Rectal bleeding and diarrhea appear to be the most common symptoms.
If a person with CMV develops symptoms of colitis, they should contact a doctor as soon as possible.
Cause
CMV is a strain of the herpes virus that affects approximately
However, symptoms can occur, especially in those with a compromised immune system.
Treatment options will depend on the type and severity of symptoms that a person is experiencing.
There are different types of medications that a doctor may suggest,
- aminosalicylates
- corticosteroids
- biological drugs
If medication does not work, the doctor may suggest surgical intervention.
Surgery may also be desirable to people who are benefiting from medication but still finding that the condition affects their quality of life.
There is no way to prevent colitis. However, a person can take steps to help manage the condition and reduce its symptoms.
These steps include:
- not smoking
- eating a healthful diet
- avoiding carbonated drinks
- avoiding caffeine
- avoiding alcohol
- avoiding high fiber foods
- consuming lots of water
- keeping a food diary to help identify triggers
Research indicates that people who smoke are
Learn more about natural remedies for managing ulcerative colitis here.
Colitis is not typically fatal. However, it is a lifelong condition that can have life threatening complications.
For example, some types of colitis — such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis — can increase the risk of developing colon cancer. Microscopic colitis, on the other hand,
Learn more about the potential complications of ulcerative colitis here.
Additionally, a person’s outlook depends on the type of colitis they have.
For CMV colitis, for example, the outcome is favorable. It can even resolve without antiviral treatment in approximately
It is always best for a person to make a doctor aware if they believe that they have colitis. Even if medical treatment does not seem necessary, the support can be beneficial.
People should contact a doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms:
- abdominal pain or cramping
- bloody diarrhea
- an urgent need to have a bowel movement
- blood in the stool
- rectal bleeding
- weight loss
If a person thinks that they may have acute severe ulcerative colitis, they need medical attention immediately.
When the inner lining of the colon becomes inflamed, it is known as colitis.
This can be the result of several conditions. However, the most common type is ulcerative colitis.
If a person develops colitis, they are likely to experience abdominal discomfort, rectal bleeding, weight loss, bloody diarrhea, and an urgent need to have a bowel movement.
A person should contact a doctor if they suspect that they are experiencing colitis.