Treatment is directed at the cause of disease (infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or another cause).

See the conditions listed above for specific recommendations.

The prognosis varies with each disease. See particular conditions listed above.

• Bleeding
• Hole in the colon
• Toxic megacolon
• Sore (ulceration)

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain that does not get better
• Blood in the stool or stools that look black
• Diarrhea or vomiting that does not go away
• Swollen (distended) abdomen

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)