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.
New York University
David Hudesman is a Gastroenterologist in New York, New York. Dr. Hudesman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Colitis. His top areas of expertise are Hemorrhagic Proctocolitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Small Bowel Resection, and Ileostomy.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Care Foundation
Andres Yarur is a Gastroenterologist in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Yarur is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Colitis. His top areas of expertise are Ulcerative Colitis, Viral Gastroenteritis, Hemorrhagic Proctocolitis, Small Bowel Resection, and Endoscopy.
William Sandborn is a Gastroenterologist in San Diego, California. Dr. Sandborn is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Colitis. His top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Hemorrhagic Proctocolitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.
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: The purpose of this protocol is to evaluate the efficacy of tulisokibart in participants with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Study 1's primary hypotheses are that at least 1 tulisokibart dose level is superior to Placebo in the proportion of participants achieving clinical remission according to the Modified Mayo Score at Week 12, and that at least 1 tulisokibart dose level is s...
Summary: Researchers want to learn more about tulisokibart (also known as MK-7240) in an extension study. Tulisokibart is a medicine designed to treat active, moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). An extension study is a type of study where people who received tulisokibart in certain other studies for CD or UC (called a parent study) may be able to join this study. The goals ...
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.