Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Colitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large intestine (colon).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Colitis can have many different causes, including:
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Acute andchronic infections, includingfood 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
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)
