Patient education: Colitis (The Basics)

What is colitis? — Colitis is inflammation or swelling of the lining of the colon. The colon is also called the large intestine (figure 1). There are many types of colitis.

What can cause colitis? — Different types of colitis are caused by different things. These include:

●Infection

●Poor blood flow to the colon

●Long-term, or "chronic," inflammation (called "inflammatory bowel disease")

What are the symptoms of colitis? — Symptoms can be mild or severe. They might happen just once. Or they might go away and come back again.

Possible symptoms include:

●Belly pain, cramping, and feeling bloated

●Diarrhea

●Blood or mucus in bowel movements

●Nausea

●Fever or chills

●Losing weight without trying

●Feeling very tired

Is there a test for colitis? — The doctor will do an exam and feel your belly. Then, they might order blood or stool tests to check for causes of colitis.

Doctors often use a test called a "colonoscopy" or a similar test called a "sigmoidoscopy" (figure 2). For these tests, the doctor puts a thin tube into your rectum (the lower part of your large intestine) and moves it up into your colon. The tube has a camera attached to it, so the doctor can look inside your colon. They can also take samples of tissue to look at under a microscope, if needed.

Other tests might include blood tests, X-rays, or scans.

How is colitis treated? — Treatment depends on your situation. It can involve medicines to:

●Fight infection

●Replace lost fluids

●Reduce inflammation

Your doctor might suggest anti-diarrhea medicines, such as loperamide (brand name: Imodium). This helps reduce the number of bowel movements you have. Only take these medicines if your doctor told you to.

More on this topic

Patient education: Colitis – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Ulcerative colitis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Ulcerative colitis in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Microscopic colitis (The Basics)
Patient education: Colonoscopy (The Basics)

Patient education: Ulcerative colitis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Colonoscopy (Beyond the Basics)