Introduction
Colitis (also known as ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflaming of the membrane lining the colon (your bowels) producing sores, called ulcers, in the uppermost layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be identified utilizing flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these exams, a flexible tube is put into the rectum, and specific parts of the colon are evaluated. Colitis may be acute (existing only a few days) or chronic (lasting weeks or sometimes many months) and may result in bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). Colitis is best managed when its cause has been determine and specific treatment can be used.
Symptoms
Signs can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, growth in intestinal gas, and bloody stools and can return in up to twenty percent of individuals with this disorder, thus necessitating treatment with antibiotics to be repeated. Colitis can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms are liken to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn disease (also known as Crohn's disease). The two most normal symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About half of the individuals diagnosed with the disease have mild symptoms. It is not created by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, however these factors may trigger symptoms in some persons. The stress of living with colitis may also add to a worsening of symptoms. A few people have remissions, periods when the signs go away, that last for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person must be hospitalized.
Treatment
Therapy for colitis depends on the severity of the disease and routinely starts with prescription anti-inflammatory medications, namely mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to diminished swelling. Treatment may also encompass taking nutritional supplements to restore normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Threatment is directed at the underlying cause of the disease, should it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other causes. The aim is to control the inflammation, decrease symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients.
Therapy varies depending upon which areas of the colon are involved. Each individual experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for each person. Occasionly the health care provider will recommend removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other medications threaten the patients health. If you are already under therapy for inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, contact your health care provider if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your feces.
Also see your health care provider should you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting more than three days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, abnormal loose bowel movements during pregnancy, More than 1 other individual who shared food with you who has symptoms like yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your feces, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen.
You ought to go to the hospital's Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in individuals diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young individual, Progression or appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your feces along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your health care provider will consider the possible reasons for your colitis and any complications that need urgent treatment.
Conclusion
Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that may be caused by numerous different disease processes and is usually found in younger individuals, before they reach age 30. As many as two million persons in the US are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish people tend to have more occurences of the disease than non-Jewish people. It affects both males and females equally and appears to run in families, with reports of up to twenty percent of persons with the disease having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with individuals of Jewish origins a higher incidence is also seen in Whites. Those with this disease typically have abnormalities of the immune system, but health care practitioners do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having the disease.
Many tests are used to diagnose Colitis. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the most accurate methods for making a diagnosis and ruling out other possible problems, such as Crohns disease, diverticular disease, or cancer. Sometimes x rays utilizing a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There's no proven cure for it, but therapies are available that may dramatically decrease the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your health care provider will decide which tests you need based on your symptoms, medical history, and clinical findings.
Colitis (also known as ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflaming of the membrane lining the colon (your bowels) producing sores, called ulcers, in the uppermost layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be identified utilizing flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these exams, a flexible tube is put into the rectum, and specific parts of the colon are evaluated. Colitis may be acute (existing only a few days) or chronic (lasting weeks or sometimes many months) and may result in bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). Colitis is best managed when its cause has been determine and specific treatment can be used.
Symptoms
Signs can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, growth in intestinal gas, and bloody stools and can return in up to twenty percent of individuals with this disorder, thus necessitating treatment with antibiotics to be repeated. Colitis can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms are liken to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn disease (also known as Crohn's disease). The two most normal symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About half of the individuals diagnosed with the disease have mild symptoms. It is not created by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, however these factors may trigger symptoms in some persons. The stress of living with colitis may also add to a worsening of symptoms. A few people have remissions, periods when the signs go away, that last for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person must be hospitalized.
Treatment
Therapy for colitis depends on the severity of the disease and routinely starts with prescription anti-inflammatory medications, namely mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to diminished swelling. Treatment may also encompass taking nutritional supplements to restore normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Threatment is directed at the underlying cause of the disease, should it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other causes. The aim is to control the inflammation, decrease symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients.
Therapy varies depending upon which areas of the colon are involved. Each individual experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for each person. Occasionly the health care provider will recommend removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other medications threaten the patients health. If you are already under therapy for inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, contact your health care provider if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your feces.
Also see your health care provider should you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting more than three days, Severe abdominal or rectal pain, Symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, abnormal loose bowel movements during pregnancy, More than 1 other individual who shared food with you who has symptoms like yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your feces, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen.
You ought to go to the hospital's Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in individuals diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young individual, Progression or appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your feces along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your health care provider will consider the possible reasons for your colitis and any complications that need urgent treatment.
Conclusion
Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that may be caused by numerous different disease processes and is usually found in younger individuals, before they reach age 30. As many as two million persons in the US are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish people tend to have more occurences of the disease than non-Jewish people. It affects both males and females equally and appears to run in families, with reports of up to twenty percent of persons with the disease having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with individuals of Jewish origins a higher incidence is also seen in Whites. Those with this disease typically have abnormalities of the immune system, but health care practitioners do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having the disease.
Many tests are used to diagnose Colitis. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the most accurate methods for making a diagnosis and ruling out other possible problems, such as Crohns disease, diverticular disease, or cancer. Sometimes x rays utilizing a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There's no proven cure for it, but therapies are available that may dramatically decrease the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your health care provider will decide which tests you need based on your symptoms, medical history, and clinical findings.
About the Author:
Ricardo Henri is the webmaster of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a site containing a plethora of information about caring for your own bodycontainingout relying on drugs and needless surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ alternative treatments or alternative medicine
No comments:
Post a Comment