Colitis - A Basic Outline

Very little is known about this serious digestive disorder. A basic outline about this condition will help victims and their loved ones come to terms with colitis.

Colitis is the inflammation of the colon or large intestine. Colitis is the general term applied when referring to several disorders involving the large intestine.

Common causes of this digestive disorder are viruses, bacteria, parasites, disorders in the immune system, also poor hygiene practices and the prolonged use of antibiotics.

Common symptoms of Colitis that physicians look for in making a diagnosis of this condition are:

• diarrhea


• presence of blood and mucus in the stool


• abdominal pain


• fever


• persistent urge to have a bowel movement


• lack of appetite


• fatigue

Colitis can be diagnosed in all the gender categories from between 15 to 40 years of age. It is uncommon in children. This condition appears to be hereditary as people diagnosed with colitis reveal that they have family members who are ill with this disorder.

The most widespread forms of colitis are ulcerative and Chron's disease. Ulcerative colitis is the chronic and severe inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the large intestine. This form of colitis causes inflammation & formation of ulcers or sores in the top layers of the lining of the colon only; hardly ever does it affect the small intestine. Chron's disease is an inflammatory disease of the colon marked by the thickening of the lining of the intestinal wall. The inflammation characteristic to Chron's disease generally occurs in the small intestine but it often spreads deep into other parts of the digestive tract.

There is no known medical cure for colitis. When the condition arises, the cycle of relapse and remission begins.