Colitis is the general term used to describe inflammation of the colon or large intestine. There are several causes of colitis in children. Infectious colitis is the result of infection, usually by a virus or bacteria. The other common cause of colitis in children is inflammatory bowel disease, a term that encompasses two conditions--Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Types
According to the Mayo Clinic, the main difference between children with ulcerative colitis and those with Crohn's disease is that in ulcerative colitis, the inflammation is localized to the colon, while in Crohn's disease, it can extend to different segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Likewise, children with infectious colitis have disease mostly in the colon but can also have inflammation in the small intestines, a condition called enteritis.
Symptoms
The symptoms of colitis are similar regardless of the cause. Children can have abdominal cramps, rectal pain, painful straining without the capacity to have bowel movements, and bloody diarrhea. Since inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition, children often have weight loss and growth deficiencies associated with the inability to absorb nutrients efficiently. Infectious colitis can also cause vomiting and dehydration, but only for a short period of time, since the condition self-resolves within days.
Complications
A rare complication of ulcerative colitis is toxic or fulminant colitis. This is a life-threatening inflammation of the entire colon. According to the Merck Manuals, this can be precipitated by the use of anti-diarrheal drugs. The symptoms of toxic or fulminant colitis include high fever up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, violent bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain with abdominal wall tension and organ failure or shock. A complication of Crohn's disease is an increased risk of colon cancer.
Effects
The effects of colitis due to inflammatory bowel disease come and go, in so-called flare-ups. Crohn's disease flare-ups are characterized by bouts of abdominal pain, tenderness and bowel obstruction, which can cause vomiting. Children with ulcerative colitis flare-ups usually present with bloody diarrhea and lower abdominal cramps. Both can also present with fever, weight loss, anorexia and dehydration.
Treatment
The treatment of infectious colitis is supportive, with fluids and fever-control measures. The treatment of ulcerative colitis involves appropriate diet management, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and, if the disease is localized to a small area of the colon, surgery. The treatment of Crohn's disease is similar, except that since the condition can involve the entire gastrointestinal tract, surgery is rarely indicated. Also, patients with Crohn's disease may need medicines to modulate or suppress their immune system.
