Colitis is inflammation of the colon, which can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas, dehydration, blood in the stool and alternating periods of watery diarrhea and constipation.
Also known as enterocolitis, colitis can occur as a consequence of changes in immunity, but it can also be due to infections by bacteria or viruses. Therefore, whenever colitis is suspected, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist, proctologist or general practitioner.
Colitis is treated according to its cause, but medication is usually recommended to alleviate symptoms, such as scopolamine or antibiotics to treat the infection. Furthermore, it is important to have a healthy diet guided by a nutritionist, to avoid irritation of the intestine and the appearance of more lesions. See what a colitis diet should look like.
Colitis symptoms
The main symptoms of colitis are:
- Abdominal pain or cramps;
- Alternation between diarrhea and constipation;
- Presence of mucus in feces;
- Bloody stools;
- Fever;
- Chills;
- Dehydration;
- Excess intestinal gas;
- Loss of appetite;
- Excessive tiredness.
Furthermore, in some cases, symptoms unrelated to the gastrointestinal system may appear, such as joint pain, eye inflammation or skin changes such as erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum.
If symptoms of colitis appear, it is important to consult a general practitioner, gastroenterologist or proctologist so that the diagnosis can be made, the cause identified and the most appropriate treatment initiated.
Online symptom test
Some types of colitis, such as ulcerative colitis, are considered inflammatory bowel diseases. To find out your chances of having inflammatory bowel disease, please select the symptoms you present:
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of colitis is normally made by a gastroenterologist or proctologist, through the evaluation of symptoms and physical examination, in addition to stool examination and imaging tests such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, colonoscopy or rectosigmoidoscopy. Find out how rectosigmoidoscopy is performed.
Make an appointment with the gastroenterologist in the nearest region:
Your doctor may also order blood tests that may suggest colitis, such as anti-perinuclear neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (P-ANCA), anti-Saccharomyces beer (ASCA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
Possible causes of colitis
Colitis is caused by inflammation in the intestine and can occur due to infection by viruses, bacteria or parasites, inflammation or allergic reactions to food, for example and autoimmune diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
This inflammation in the intestine can be acute or chronic, and depending on its cause, it presents different symptoms, and it is important to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist to carry out the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment, which varies according to the type of colitis.
Types of colitis
Colitis can be classified into different types according to the cause and symptoms presented, the main ones being:
1. Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the mucosa of the large intestine characterized by the presence of several ulcers on the intestinal wall that cause a lot of discomfort. Ulcers can appear along the intestine, in isolated parts or at the end. In addition to the presence of ulcers, there may be diarrhea with mucus and blood, abdominal pain and fever.
Ulcerative colitis does not have a specific cause, but it is possible that it occurs due to genetic factors, changes in the immune system, and infections caused by viruses or bacteria, with changes in the intestinal flora.
When ulcerative colitis is quickly identified, the gastroenterologist is able to quickly treat and eliminate the cause and the wounds, however, as the inflammation progresses, the lesions become irreversible. Additionally, people who have untreated ulcerative colitis are more likely to have colorectal cancer. See what the symptoms of colorectal cancer are.
2. Pseudomembranous colitis
Pseudomembranous colitis is caused by bacteria Clostridium difficilewhich normally lives in the intestine, but when it multiplies excessively, it produces and releases toxins capable of damaging the intestinal walls, causing inflammation.
Pseudomembranous colitis is most often associated with the use of antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or azithromycin, which cause an imbalance of bacteria in the intestine, leading to excessive growth of the Clostridium difficile. Understand more about pseudomembranous colitis.
3. Nervous colitis
Nervous colitis, also called irritable bowel syndrome, is more common in young people and is caused by psychological conditions, such as stress and anxiety, for example, which makes the intestine more sensitive and favors the occurrence of injuries. This type of colitis is characterized by pain, abdominal swelling and excess gas. See what the main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are.
4. Ischemic colitis
Ischemic colitis is caused by a decrease or blockage of blood flow in the intestine due to the accumulation of fat within the blood vessels, resulting in the formation of ulcers in the intestinal wall, inflammation, abscesses and swelling, in addition to increasing the risk of bleeding.
Generally, this type of colitis is associated with other conditions such as diabetes, smoking, dehydration, heart failure, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
5. Microscopic colitis
Microscopic colitis is a type of colitis that is diagnosed only through a biopsy taken during the colonoscopy exam, and is called microscopic, as the changes in the intestine can only be visualized by analyzing the intestinal cells under a microscope, and generally, during the colonoscopy examination the intestine is apparently normal.
This type of colitis does not yet have a fully defined cause, but it may have several factors that, when combined, generate inflammatory changes in the intestine.
6. Infectious colitis
Infectious colitis is caused by an infection with viruses, such as norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus or cytomegalovirus, parasites, such as Entamoeba histolyticaand bacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica or Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Furthermore, some sexually transmitted infections can also cause infectious colitis such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes simplex 1 and 2 or syphilis.
Generally, this type of colitis causes acute diarrhea, stools with pus, blood or mucus, fever and abdominal pain.
7. Allergic colitis
Allergic colitis is more common in babies, and is generally associated with an allergy or hypersensitivity reaction to proteins in breast milk, cow’s milk or infant formula, leading to symptoms such as reflux, abdominal pain, blood in the stool and irritation.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of colitis must be guided by the doctor and may vary according to the cause of the colitis.
The main treatments for colitis include:
1. Food
Nutrition is important in the treatment of colitis, as it reduces the chance of complications, helps alleviate symptoms and can improve nutrient absorption, promoting a better quality of life.
There is no specific diet or foods that should be consumed in greater quantities during colitis treatment, however, the nutritionist can recommend a healthy and balanced diet, increasing the consumption of lean meats, fruits and vegetables, good fats and the use of natural seasonings.
Furthermore, you should avoid consuming raw foods and chew your food very well. If symptoms persist, your doctor or nutritionist may recommend following a liquid diet, drinking vegetable juices such as beetroot or kale juice, for example.
It is also very important to increase the bacterial flora by eating a greater amount of probiotic foods such as yogurt and fermented milk, for example. See how the colitis diet should be followed.
2. Medications
Treatment with medication may be recommended by the doctor with the aim of relieving symptoms, combating inflammation or the microorganism responsible for the intestinal infection.
The main medications that may be recommended by your doctor are:
- Analgesicssuch as paracetamol;
- Anti-inflammatoriessuch as ibuprofen;
- Antibioticssuch as metronidazole or vancomycin;
- Antidiarreicoslike loperamide;
- Corticosteroidssuch as prednisone or prednisolone;
- Immunosuppressantssuch as azathioprine or cyclosporine;
- Biological agentssuch as infliximab, adalimumab, or ustekimumab.
In addition, the nutritionist may recommend the use of multivitamin-based remedies to improve nutritional status.
3. Surgery
Surgery for colitis is only recommended by a doctor when treatment with medication and adequate nutrition are not effective, and surgery is then necessary to remove part or all of the colon or rectum. This usually occurs in cases of more serious colitis where the damage is irreversible.
4. Home remedies
Home remedies for colitis are a good way to help relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas, chills and dehydration more quickly, and although they do not replace treatment with medicine, food or surgery, they can be used to complement the treatment recommended by your doctor. .
A good option for a home remedy for colitis is pure apple juice, which can be consumed several times a day. To make this juice, simply put the apples in a blender or processor and then drink. Check out other home remedies for colitis.
