Colitis Overview
Learn About Colitis
Colitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large intestine (colon).
Most of the time, the cause of colitis is not known.
Causes of colitis include:
- Infections caused by a virus or a parasite
- Food poisoning due to bacteria
- Crohn disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Lack of blood flow to the colon (ischemic colitis)
- Past radiation to the colon (radiation colitis and strictures)
- Necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns
- Pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile infection (now called Clostridiodes difficile)
Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain and bloating that may be constant or come and go
- Bloody stools
- Constant urge to have a bowel movement (tenesmus)
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Fever
Your treatment will depend on the cause of the disease.
City Of Frederick Department Of Housing And Human Services
Sean Hunt is a Gastroenterologist in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Hunt has been practicing medicine for over 40 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Colitis. His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diverticular Disease, Gastrectomy, and Colonoscopy.
Gaffar Syed MD PA
Gaffar Syed is an Internal Medicine provider in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Syed and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Colitis. His top areas of expertise are Sepsis, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Peptic Ulcer, Ureteroscopy, and Prostatectomy. Dr. Syed is currently accepting new patients.
Frederick Internal Medicine And Endocrinology Services PA
Andrew Donelson is an Internal Medicine provider in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Donelson and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Colitis. His top areas of expertise are Secondary Parkinsonism, Colitis, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Colonoscopy, and Ureteroscopy. Dr. Donelson is currently accepting new patients.
The outlook depends on the cause of the problem.
- Crohn disease is a chronic condition which has no cure but can be controlled. Biologic agents are very effective in controlling symptoms of Crohn colitis.
- Ulcerative colitis can usually be controlled with medicines. If not controlled, it can be cured by surgically removing the colon.
- Viral, bacterial, and parasitic colitis can be cured with appropriate medicines.
- Pseudomembranous colitis can usually be cured with appropriate antibiotics.
Complications may include:
- Bleeding with bowel movements
- Perforation of the colon
- Toxic megacolon
- Sore (ulceration)
Contact your provider if you have symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain that does not get better
- Blood in the stool or stools that look black
- Diarrhea or vomiting that does not go away
- Swollen abdomen
Summary: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease. UC pathogenesis remains poorly understood but involves an inappropriate immune response toward an unbalanced gut microbiota (called dysbiosis) in predisposed hosts. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the fecal microbiota transplantation on UC.
Summary: TARGET-IBD is a 5-year, longitudinal, observational study of adult and pediatric patients (age 2 and above) being managed for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in usual clinical practice. TARGET-IBD will create a research registry of patients with IBD within academic and community real-world practices in order to assess the safety and effectiveness of current and future therapies.
Published Date: August 07, 2023
Published By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Ananthakrishnan AN, Regueiro MD. Management of inflammatory bowel diseases. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 116.
Lichtenstein GR. Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 127.
Pardi DS, Cotter TG. Other diseases of the colon. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 128.