| Colitis can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the cause and extent of the affliction. In advanced stages when Colitis is ulcerative, symptoms include rectal bleeding and diarrhea. As the disease develops it can cause abdominal cramps, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of body fluids and nutrients - which can result in accelerated weight loss. The inflammation can spread as the disease progresses whether or not the symptoms increase. When the inflammation is confined to the rectum, patients have milder symptoms and a better prognosis than patients with more widespread inflammation of the colon. People between the ages of 15 and 30 are most commonly diagnosed with colitis. Compared to women, men are more likely to suffer from colitis in their 50s and 60s. The condition can be diagnosed by stool examination, blood tests, colonoscopy, or a barium enema x-ray. Taking these steps is vital in assuring that someone is suffering from ulcerative colitis and does not simply have a bacterial or viral infection. In cases of ulcerative proctitis, where the inflammation is limited to the rectum, the only symptom may be mild intermittent rectal bleeding. Those with proctosigmoiditis, the inflammation of the rectum and a short segment of the colon, suffer from severe bloody diarrhea and cramps. Patients with pancolitis, or what is commonly known as universal colitis, a condition where the entire colon is inflamed, are likely to experience fever, bloody diarrhea and weight loss. Fulminant colitis is a rare but severe form of pancolitis. Patients with fulminant colitis are prone to dehydration, severe abdominal pain, protracted diarrhea with bleeding and even shock. They are at risk of developing toxic megacolon, the dilatation of the colon due to severe inflammation and colon rupture. Patients with fulminant colitis are treated in the hospital with potent intravenous medications. Unless they respond to treatment promptly, surgical removal of the diseased colon is necessary to prevent colon rupture. In some cases patients afflicted with colitis also experience complications like eye problems, joint problems, skin rashes and liver and kidney infections. Previous Article | Next Article If you enjoyed reading "Colitis Symptoms", you may also be interested in the rest of the articles in our comprehensive series on: Colitis Or, browse our master article archive for a listing of all main topics. We would like to thank the researchers, authors and contributors of Colitis Symptoms. Here is some more information and links that may also help you in the exploration of the topic "Colitis": Colitis provides detailed information on Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Colitis Symptoms, Ischemic Colitis and more. Colitis is affiliated with Crohns Disease Diet. |