Symptoms and Signs of Colitis

Doctor's Notes on Colitis

Colitis refers to inflammation of the lining of the large intestine (large bowel or colon). There are a number of different causes of colitis. Some types of colitis include: 

• infectious colitis, 
• inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), 
• microscopic colitis, and 
• ischemic colitis, in which tissue death occurs due to a reduction in blood supply to the colon.

Symptoms of colitis arise due to the inflammation present in the bowel wall. Signs and symptoms include:

• abdominal pain, 
• abdominal cramping, 
• diarrhea, and 
• blood in the stool (either visible to the naked eye or detected by a laboratory test). 

Depending on the cause of the colitis, other symptoms can occur. Associated signs and symptoms may include: 

• fever, 
• chills, 
• fatigue,
• canker sores, 
• ulcers at other sites in the gastrointestinal tract, 
• dehydration, 
• joint pain and swelling, and 
• inflammation of the eyes. 

What Is the Treatment for Colitis?

Treatment for colitis depends upon the cause and severity of the condition. Treatment options may include:

• Antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Supportive care and fluids with dietary modifications (bowel rest)
• Anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressant medications
• Surgery to remove all or part of the colon 
• Biologic therapies
• Antispasmodic medications
• Antidiarrheal medication
• Pain medications