Colitis (cont.)
Microscopic colitis
There are two types of microscopic colitis,
1)
collagenous colitis and 2) lymphocytic colitis. Either collagen or lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell)
engorge the layers of the wall of the colon, presumably a result of
inflammation. This is an uncommon illness and may be an auto-immune disease. It
is seen more frequently in older women. The diarrhea often is watery, but no
blood is present in the stool.
What are the symptoms of colitis?
Inflammation of the colon causes the muscle layers to go into intermittent
spasm and cause cramp-like pain, which is pain that comes and goes. The pain
usually is in the lower abdomen. Since the muscles fail to contract in a normal
pattern and the colonic contents move through the colon rapidly, there is little
opportunity for water to be reabsorbed. This leads to watery diarrhea. If the
lining of the colon is inflamed and breaks down, bleeding may occur.
With colitis, particularly colitis involving the distal colon (rectum and
sigmoid colon), the pain often crescendos and precedes a diarrheal bowel
movement. After the bowel movement, the pain may relent but then returns with
the next episode of pain.
Depending upon the cause of the colitis, fever, and possibly malaise may or
may not be present.
When should I contact my doctor about colitis?
Diarrhea is a common symptom, is usually self limited, and usually requires
only supportive care, rest, and clear fluids until it resolves. If the diarrhea
persists, diagnosis of the cause and further care may be needed.
- Blood in the stool is never normal and should always be evaluated. The
blood may be
from a hemorrhoid bleed,
however, other serious causes of bleeding need to be investigated. Colitis is not the
only cause of rectal bleeding,
other cause include
diverticulitis, colon
polyps, anal fissures,
or cancer.
- Chronic diarrhea can lead to dehydration, and if severe enough, dehydration may require treatment with fluids. The symptoms of dehydration may include:
- lightheadedness (dizziness) especially when going from the sitting or lying
positions to the upright position,
- weakness,
- dry mouth, and
- decreased output of
urine.
- High fever associated with diarrhea may be a warning sign that an
significant
infection is present that may need evaluation by a health care practitioner and treatment.
- Abdominal pain is not normal, and while diarrhea may be associated with mild
cramps, if a person has moderate or severe abdominal pain he or she should seek medical care.
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