Colitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the large intestine due to its infectious, ischemic, drug or toxic lesion. The disease is very common, it is diagnosed in about 50% of patients experiencing problems with the digestive system. Most often, colitis affects women from 20 to 60 years old and men from 40 to 60 years old..

Colitis accounts for about half of all problems with the digestive system Causes of colitis and risk factors In about 30% of patients, intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery) cause inflammation of the colon. Somewhat less often, the cause of colitis lies in long-term antibiotic therapy, which causes a disturbance in the normal balance of the intestinal microflora, while damage to the mucous membrane is caused by opportunistic microorganisms that normally live in the intestine, but due to dysbiosis, excessively multiplying.

Eating poor-quality food, alcohol abuse, irrational and irregular nutrition contribute to the development of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.

In some cases, colitis develops as a complication of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (hepatitis, pancreatitis, chronic gastritis), and may also be a consequence of developmental abnormalities and functional insufficiency of the intestine.

Forms of the disease By the nature of the clinical course, colitis is distinguished:.

acute - characterized by a rapid course, the stomach and small intestine are usually drawn into the pathological process, in this case they speak of acute gastroenterocolitis;

chronic - symptoms of colitis are mild, alternating periods of remission and exacerbations are characteristic.

Depending on the cause that caused the development of the inflammatory process in the large intestine, the following types of colitis are distinguished:.

infectious (tuberculous, salmonella, shigellosis colitis);

alimentary, t. due to supply errors;

exogenous toxic caused by intoxication with salts of heavy metals or other poisons;

endogenous toxic, in which intoxication of the body is caused by the accumulation of metabolic products, for example, uric acid in gout;

drug, arising from prolonged therapy with antibiotics, laxatives;

mechanical, caused by abuse of rectal suppositories and / or enemas, chronic constipation;

allergic;

ischemic, which develops due to impaired blood flow in the branches of the abdominal aorta that supply blood to the large intestine;

ulcerative, the development of which is based on complex autoimmune mechanisms.

Types of colitis depending on the localization of the inflammation Depending on the localization of the inflammatory process:.

pancolitis (the entire large intestine is involved in the pathological process);

typhlitis (inflammation of the cecum);

transversitis (inflammation of the transverse colon);

sigmoiditis (inflammation of the sigmoid colon);

proctitis (inflammation of the rectum).

Colitis is very common and is diagnosed in about 50% of patients with digestive problems.

Colitis symptoms The clinical picture of acute and chronic colitis is significantly different..

Symptoms of acute colitis Regardless of the etiological factor, acute colitis is characterized by the following symptoms:.

intense cramping abdominal pain;

diarrhea up to 20-25 times a day;

tenesmus (false urge to defecate).

In the feces with acute colitis, impurities of pus, mucus, blood are often found.

In acute colitis, abdominal cramps and repeated diarrhea are observed For acute colitis, a number of common symptoms are also characteristic:.

increase in body temperature to 38-39 ° С;

dry skin and mucous membranes;

the appearance on the tongue of a gray coating;

loss of appetite;

weakness;

Chronic colitis symptoms The specific symptoms of chronic colitis are:.

aching dull or cramping pains that are diffuse or localized in a certain part of the abdomen;

flatulence;

rumbling intestines;

stool disorders;

tenesmus.

Aching abdominal pain, flatulence, stool disturbances are characteristic of chronic colitis In chronic colitis, an increase in the severity of pain syndrome can be caused by tension of the abdominal muscles, setting a cleansing enema, eating. After a bowel movement, passing gas, or taking antispasmodic drugs, abdominal pain subsides.

Defecation in chronic colitis can occur up to 7-8 times a day. At the same time, the volume of feces is small, impurities of blood and / or mucus are found in them.

When palpating the abdomen, pain is determined along the colon..

The most common forms of chronic colitis are proctosigmoiditis and proctitis.. They arise due to bacterial dyskinesia of the colon, systematic mechanical irritation of its mucous membrane, usually caused by chronic constipation. The symptoms of these chronic forms of colitis are:.

aching pain in the left iliac region;

bloating;

nausea;

general malaise;

subfebrile temperature.

With exacerbation of proctosigmoiditis and proctitis, patients develop pronounced tenesmus. Feces take the form of a " Palpation reveals pain in the projection of the sigmoid colon.

Common symptoms of chronic colitis include:.

general malaise;

headaches and dizziness;

weakness;

increased fatigue;

weight loss;

astheno-neurotic syndrome.

In severe chronic colitis, patients have impaired psychological status. This is manifested by a disturbance in the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness, the appearance of unmotivated anxiety, increased irritability, unexplained anxiety and panic..

Colitis during pregnancy In patients with this disease, there is a decrease in fertility by 7-15%. The reasons for the decrease in fertility are the adhesions in the abdominal cavity, conditions after surgical treatment of colitis (resection of the colon with the imposition of an ileostomy or ileoanal anastomosis, subtotal or total colectomy). But even in the event of pregnancy, women with ulcerative colitis may have problems with bearing.

The course of ulcerative colitis during pregnancy is largely determined by the activity of the inflammatory process at the time of conception.

If pregnancy occurs against the background of a stable remission of the disease, then in most cases this remission will be preserved.. If at the time of conception, ulcerative colitis was in an exacerbation stage, then in 30% of women the activity of the inflammatory process will be preserved throughout pregnancy, and in 35% it will even increase. Exacerbations of the disease usually occur in the first half of pregnancy, in the post-abortion and postpartum periods.

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