Doctors use the general term "colitis" to describe inflammation of the large intestine, which includes the colon, cecum and rectum. Colitis may occur due to an infection, an inflammatory disease, a lack of blood flow or a malfunction of the large intestine. The classification of colitis includes several common conditions which all produce similar symptoms.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, often referred to as a spastic colon or colitis, describes a functional disorder of the large intestine. Although irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, can occur in the absence of inflammation, the presence of the group of symptoms caused by IBS can lead to inflammation of the colon. Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder affecting approximately 20 percent of the adult population in the United States, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
The large intestine functions to absorb water nutrients and salts from the partially digested food contents. In those with IBS the colon wall contracts irregularly producing sudden strong contractions followed by slow contractions. When contents move too quickly, too much water remains causing diarrhea. When contents move too slowly the intestine absorb too much water resulting in constipation. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating and discomfort.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease, classified as an inflammatory bowel disease, can cause inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract, but it most commonly affects the lower portion of the small intestine, known as the ileum, and the colon. Although the exact cause of Crohn's disease remains unknown, doctors believe a combination of factors including inherited traits, environmental factors and the immune system contribute to the inflammation.
Crohn's disease causes persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, weight loss and fatigue. Currently there is no cure for this chronic disease. Patients with Crohn's disease experience periods of flare-ups, in which the symptoms can become severe, followed by periods of remission, as described by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis, also classified as an inflammatory bowel disease, causes inflammation along with the formation of open sores along the lining of the colon. Although similar to Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis only affects surface lining of the colon, whereas Crohn's disease can affect the tissues deep within the wall of the colon.
Ulcerative colitis causes abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea and can also result in weight loss, anemia, fatigue, joint pain and failure to grow. The inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis damages the cells in the wall of the colon, therefore increasing the risk for developing colon cancer. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse reports that about 5 percent of patients with ulcerative colitis develop colon cancer.
Ischemic Colitis
Ischemic colitis describes a condition of inflammation of the colon caused by a lack of blood flow. Many different diseases and conditions can lead to ischemic colitis. Peripheral vascular disease occurs when the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet become narrow due to arteriosclerosis---hardening of the artery walls from consistently high blood pressure. Heart conditions that interfere with the flow of blood leaving the heart, such as atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, can also cause ischemic colitis.
