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 (ischemic colitis)
- Past radiation to the large bowel (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.
The outlook depends on the cause of the problem.
- Crohn disease is a chronic condition which has no cure but can be controlled.
- 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
Published Date: July 01, 2021
Published By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Lichtenstein GR. Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 132.
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.