Colitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large intestine (colon).

Colitis can have many different causes, including:

• Acute and chronic infections, including food poisoning
• Inflammatory disorders (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's colitis, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Lack of blood flow (ischemic colitis)
• Past radiation to the large bowel

For more information about a specific type of colitis see:

• CMV colitis (a viral infection of the colon)
• Crohn's disease (regional enteritis)
• Cryptosporidium enterocolitis
• Ischemic colitis
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Pseudomembranous colitis
• Ulcerative colitis

Images

Large intestine

Review Date: 10/13/2009
Reviewed By: George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)