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Colitis

What is colitis?

Colitis is a chronic digestive disease characterized by inflammation of the inner lining of the colon.  While colitis is a condition, it is often caused by an underlying medical issue, including:

  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Lack of blood flow (ischemic colitis)
  • Past radiation to the large bowel (radiation colitis)
  • Infection caused by a virus or a parasite

What are the symptoms of colitis?

Symptoms of colitis include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn
  • Mucus and/or blood in stools
  • Constant urge to have a bowel movement (tenesmus)
  • Dehydration
  • Fever
  • Rapid weight loss

How is colitis treated?

Dr. Meyerson will do a sigmoidoscopy to look in your anus with a flexible lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope to determine if there is inflammation in the colon.  Anti-inflammatory medication may be used to control Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, and antibiotics may be prescribed to cure infection.