Colitis Center - Torrance, CA
Torrance Gastroenterologist Doctors for ColitisType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Torrance * Iraj Akhlaghi MD  Nazir U Khaja MD  Gastroenterology Associates of the South Bay Inc  Robert M Webman MD  Gastroenterology Associates of the South Bay Inc  David O Kim MD  Judy L Law-Torok MD  Osato Medical Clinic  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  Digestive Care Consultants  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  Digestive Care Consultants  Digestive Care Consultants  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  Digestive Care Consultants  South Bay Gastroenterology Medical Group  HealthCare Partners Medical Group Redondo Beach  Harbor UCLA Medical Foundation  Harbor UCLA Medical Foundation  Kaiser Permanente Harbor City Mixed Specialties  Kaiser Permanente Harbor City Mixed Specialties  Kaiser Permanente Harbor City Mixed Specialties  Kaiser Permanente Harbor City Mixed Specialties  Coast Gastroenterology Group  William Essilfie MD  San Pedro Internal Family Medicine  Morris Taub MD  Coast Gastroenterology  Coast Gastroenterology  West Gastroenterology Associates  Coast Gastroenterology  Coast Gastroenterology  West Gastroenterology Associates  West Gastroenterology Associates  LAC / Martin Luther King Jr General Hospital  West Gastroenterology Associates  West Gastroenterology Associates  Long Beach Gastroenterology Associates  Long Beach Gastroenterology Associates  Long Beach Gastroenterology Associates  Long Beach Gastroenterology Associates  Long Beach Gastroenterology Associates  Long Beach Gastroenterology Associates  Long Beach Gastroenterology Associates  Gastro-Digestive Medical Group  Gastro-Digestive Medical Group  Multi Health Care Medical Group  Western Healthcare  Conrad A Cox MD  Jose Pantoja MD  Robert A Gross MD  Glenn Pasternack MD  Paul Key MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Yong Tai Lee MD  Martin H Lee MD  B Raymond Lim MD & Myoza T Lim MD  California Pancreatic Biliary Institute  California Pancreatic Biliary Institute  Derek M. Dobalian MD  Robert Richter MD  Said Rahban MD  Paul Choi MD  Drs Sial & Cohen  Nicholas Karyotakis MD  Robert Y Uyeda MD  Drs Sial & Cohen  William P Stuppy MD  Jin H Suh MD  Gastro Digestive Medical Group  Frischer Medical Group  Jun-Ichi Ohara MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Matsumoto Internal Medicine  Steven J Weiss MD  Dr Marc A Edelstein  Sadler Medical Group  Talbert Medical Group  Payman?Khorrami MD  Herbert R Kornfeld MD  Pyoung I Kwon MD  Rahbar Medical Group  John D Romm MD & Howard Pitchon MD  Century City Endoscopy  Mitchell J Spirt MD  Federal Medical Clinic  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD Torrance, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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ColitisWhat is colitis?Colitis is inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and is associated with diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are numerous reasons for the colon to become inflamed including:
Anatomy of the colon The colon is a hollow, muscular tube that receives products of digestion from the small intestine and ultimately eliminates them from the body through the anus. The colon is located in the abdomen and has numerous sections that are named based on their location. Colitis can affect different sections of the colon.
The colon also has several layers. The mucosa (inner layer or lining) comes into contact with the products of digestion and fluid and actively removes water and electrolytes to help solidify the feces. A layer of smooth muscle (a special type of muscle) surrounds the inner layer and is responsible for squeezing and mixing the undigested food and transporting it through the length of the colon to the anus.
What are the causes (types) of colitisAll types of colitis are associated with inflammation ... Recommended Reading Related to ColitisWhat is Ulcerative Colitis?Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine (colon). The colon is the part of the digestive system where waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. In patients with ulcerative colitis, ulcers and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to another condition of inflammation of the intestines called Crohn's disease. Together, they are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseases are chronic conditions that can last years to decades. They affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million people In the United States. Men and women are affected equally. They most commonly begin during adolescence and early adulthood, but they also can begin during childhood and later in life. ...Other Related Colitis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Torrance
Nearby Torrance Hospitals *Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance Memorial Medical Center Del Amo Hospital LAC Harbor UCLA Medical Center Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center Vista Hospital of South Bay Memorial Hospital of Gardena Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Hawthorne Campus Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center Centinela Campus Martin Luther King Jr MAC Service Center Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Miller Children's Hospital St Mary Medical Center St Francis Medical Center Kindred Hospital Los Angeles Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus Lakewood Regional Medical Center Marina Del Rey Hospital Community Hospital of Long Beach Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center Bellflower Medical Center Community Hospital of Huntington Park Brotman Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center VA Long Beach Healthcare System Downey Regional Medical Center Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Orthopaedic Medical Center Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center College Hospital Cerritos California Hospital Medical Center Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Tri-City Regional Medical Center Miracle Mile Medical Center Olympia Medical Center Los Angeles Community Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center VA Greater Los Angeles HealthCare System East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Alamitos Medical Center Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles St Vincent Medical Center Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles White Memorial Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Norwalk Community Hospital Kaiser Mental Health Center Pacific Alliance Medical Center Temple Community Hospital Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital LAC + USC Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital Metropolitan State Hospital Barlow Respiratory Hospital USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center La Palma Intercommunity Hospital USC University Hospital Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center Hollywood Community Hospital Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Beverly Hospital Monterey Park Hospital Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Anaheim General Hospital Kindred Hospital La Mirada West Anaheim Medical Center Garfield Medical Center Kindred Hospital Westminster Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Colitis by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Rectal Bleeding (Blood in Stool, Hematochezia)
- Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Rectal bleeding may be moderate to severe and most bleeding comes from the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and more.
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Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are common symptoms.
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Dehydration
- Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
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Colon Cancer
- Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
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Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis)
- Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium, and is one of the most common causes of infection of the colon. C. difficile spores are found frequently in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and nurseries for newborn infants. They can be found on bedpans, furniture, toilet seats, linens, telephones, stethoscopes, fingernails, rings, floors, infants' rooms, and diaper pails. They even can be carried by pets. Antibiotic-associated (C. difficile) colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. Treatment for C. difficile colitis hydration, replenishment of electrolyte deficiencies, discontinuing the antibiotic that caused the colitis, and using antibiotics to eradicate the C. difficile bacterium.
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Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
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Stool Color & Texture Changes (Black, Red, Maroon, Green, Yellow, Gray, Tarry, Sticky)
- Stool color is generally brown. When stool color changes, often, an individual becomes concerned. The presence of the bilirubin in bile is generally responsible for stool color. Bilirubin concentration can vary bile color from light yellow to almost black in color. Changes in bilirubin can cause stool to turn green, gray, or clay-like in color. Intestinal bleeding may turn stool black, tarry, red, maroon, or smelly stool. Medication and food may also affect stool color.
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Salmonella
- Salmonella bacteria are known to cause salmonellosis, typhoid fever, and paratyphoid fever in humans. Salmonella infection is usually caused by ingesting large amounts of the bacteria in contaminated food or water.
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Colon Polyps
- A colon polyp is a benign tumor of the large intestine. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can easily be removed during colonoscopy and are not life threatening. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant over time.
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E. Coli (0157:H7)
- There are many types of E. Coli (Escherichia coli ). Pathogenic E. coli can cause urinary tract and bladder infections, or lead to sepsis. E coli O157:H7 (EHEC) causes bloody diarrhea and colitis. Complications of E. coli infection include hemorrhagic diarrhea, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. E coli O157:H7 commonly is due to eating raw or undercooked hamburger or raw milk or dairy products.
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Food Poisoning
- Food poisoning is common, but can also be life threatening. The most common form of food poisoning is caused by bacteria and include symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Intestinal Problems of IBD)
- The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The intestinal complications of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis differ because of the characteristically dissimilar behaviors of the intestinal inflammation in these two diseases.
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Microscopic Colitis (Lymphocytic Colitis and Collagenous Colitis)
- Microscopic colitis (lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis) is a disease of inflammation of the colon. Microscopic colitis is only visible when the colon's lining is examined under a microscope. The cause of microscopic colitis is not known. Symptoms of microscopic colitis are chronic watery diarrhea and abdominal pain or cramps. Microscopic colitis is diagnosed through biopsies of several areas of the colon. There is no standardized treatment for microscopic colitis; however, eliminating NSAIDs, and treatment medications such as Imodium, Lomotil, Petpo-Bismol, Entocort EC, and mesalamine (Asacol) have been helpful in some individuals.
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Travelers' Diarrhea
- Travelers' diarrhea is generally contracted by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Food is the primary source of travelers' diarrhea. Enterotoxigenic E. coli is the cause of up to 70% of all cases of travelers' diarrhea. There are five unique classes of E. coli that causes gastroenteritis. Other bacteria responsible for travelers' diarrhea include Campylobacter, jejuni, shigella, and salmonella. Viruses such as rotavirus and Norwalk virus (norovirus) and giardia lamblia a parasite may cause travelers' diarrhea. Prevention is careful eating and drinking of water.
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Vascular Disease
- Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system. Vascular disease ranges from diseases of your arteries, veins and lymph vessels to blood disorders that affect circulation.
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Shigella
- Shigellosis is a disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. Bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever are common symptoms. Mild infections usually resolve on their own. Antibiotics are used to treat more severe cases.
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Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that is spread from person to person via spit, semen, vaginal secretions, urine, blood, sexual contact, breastfeeding, blood transfusions, organ transplants, and breast milk. Symptoms of CMV include fatigue, swollen glands, fever, and sore throat. You can take precautions to prevent CMV such as washing hands frequently and thoroughly, using condoms, if you work in day care centers wash hands thoroughly after contact with body secretions, and avoiding oral contact with objects covered in saliva. Individuals with HIV infection are at most risk of contracting CMV.
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Travel Medicine
- Travelers should prepare for their trip by visiting their physician to get the proper vaccinations and obtain the necessary medication if they have a medical condition or chronic disease. Diseases that travelers may pick up from contaminated water or food, insect or animal bites, or from other people include malaria, meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio, and cholera.
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Colon Cancer Prevention
- Colo-rectal cancer is both curable and preventable if it is detected early and completely removed before the cancerous cells metastasize to other parts of the body. Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy (along with digital rectal examination and stool occult blood testing) are both effective at preventing colo-rectal cancers and detecting early colo-rectal cancers.
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Enterovirulent E. Coli (EEC)
- Enterovirulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) are strains of related bacteria that have a strong propensity to cause gastrointestinal tract infections. Examples of strains include: EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli), ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli), EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli), EAEC (enteroadherent E. coli), and EAggEC (enteroaggregative E. coli). Symptoms may vary depending on the strain the individual contracts. Infection is spread generally through contaminated food or drink.
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