Infections, poor blood supply, and parasites can all cause an inflamed colon. If you have an inflamed colon, you'll likely have abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea.
See your doctor if you experience a persistent change in your bowel habits or if you have any of the signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Although inflammatory bowel disease usually isn't fatal, it's a serious disease that, in some cases, may cause life-threatening complications.
Infection, loss of blood supply in the colon, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and invasion of the colon wall with collagen or lymphocytic white blood cells are all possible causes of an inflamed colon.
Inflammation involves the rectum and sigmoid colon — the lower end of the colon. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain, and an inability to move the bowels despite the urge to do so. This is called tenesmus.
However, there is often no identifiable cause. Treatment often involves intravenous nutrition to allow the bowel to rest, which typically resolves the disease within one or two weeks. However, in some cases, surgery might be necessary.
Treatments for an inflamed colon depends on the cause. There is no cure for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, but life-long treatments and lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of flare-ups.
Based on visual observation, the ancients characterised inflammation by five cardinal signs, namely redness (rubor), swelling (tumour), heat (calor; only applicable to the body' extremities), pain (dolor) and loss of function (functio laesa).
What foods trigger colitis? There are several foods that may trigger your symptoms, including fatty and greasy foods, spicy foods, high-sugar foods, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
Colonoscopy and Biopsy
Gastroenterologists almost always recommend a colonoscopy to diagnose Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. This test provides live video images of the colon and rectum and enables the doctor to examine the intestinal lining for inflammation, ulcers, and other signs of IBD.
Warning Sign: Abdominal Pain
A belly ache and diarrhea with blood or pus in it could be warning signs of ulcerative colitis. Some people have mild symptoms every once in a while, but others have worse symptoms more often.
You can get a bowel infection by consuming contaminated water or food, or by having contact with another person who has the infection. Bowel infections can be caused by viruses (such as the rotavirus), bacteria (e.g. salmonella) and parasites (e.g. giardia).
Bananas are high on the list of healthy foods if you're in an ulcerative colitis flare. They're easy to digest and rich in potassium. People with irritable bowel disorders like ulcerative colitis often lack sufficient potassium.
If you have ulcerative colitis, you might see blood and mucus in your poop when you have a flare-up. It shows up most often in very loose, watery stools. This bloody diarrhea tends to happen with belly cramps, a sudden urge to have a bowel movement, and sometimes fever.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) can send you to the bathroom. A lot. In fact, diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of UC. But some people have the opposite problem.
Positive result
Polyps removed during colonoscopy are sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine whether they are cancerous, precancerous or noncancerous. Depending on the size and number of polyps, you may need to follow a more rigorous surveillance schedule in the future to look for more polyps.
Yogurt is a great way to include probiotics in a person's diet. Some people may find that probiotics can help ease symptoms of ulcerative colitis because of the healthy bacteria they provide to a person's gut.
Diverticulitis refers to inflammation of the diverticula, which are small pouches that form in the colon lining. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) where people develop inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine.
A common food intolerance among those with UC is lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in most dairy products. If you suspect dairy may be a symptom trigger for you, remove all types of dairy, including butter, milk, yogurt, and cheese, for at least 4 weeks.