How many kinds of colitis are there

A high erythrocryte sedimentation rate ESR — a measure of how long it takes for red blood cells to settle in a blood sample — is typical of acute colitis. The route of treatment depends on what is causing colitis.

Many cases require little more than symptomatic care, including clear fluids to rest the bowel and medications to control pain. Patients who have become acutely ill often need intravenous fluids and other intervention. If a hole forms, a large amount of bacteria can spill into the abdomen and cause infection.

Fulminant colitis: This includes the damage of the thickness of the intestinal wall. The normal contractions of the intestinal wall stop temporarily. Eventually, the colon loses muscle tone and begins to expand. X-rays of the abdomen can show trapped gas inside the paralyzed sections of the intestine.

Toxic megacolon: The colon dilates and loses its ability to contract properly and move intestinal gas along. Resulting abdominal distension can be severe, and patients should seek medical attention immediately. There are two types of microscopic colitis: lymphocytic and collagenous.

With the lymphocytic type, there is a higher number of white blood cells than usual, and the lining of the colon is of a normal thickness. With the collagenous type, the layer of collagen under the epithelium is thicker than usual. The symptoms of each type are similar. A person will typically experience watery diarrhea that does not contain blood. Autoimmune conditions that may be a cause include:. Bile acid malabsorption occurs when the intestines are unable to reabsorb the bile acid.

If it reaches the colon, it can lead to diarrhea. A person may experience abdominal cramping and pain. Within 24 hours , they may notice bloody stools. An older article states that there are three main categories of ischemic colitis:. Most people have the transient type, which causes milder symptoms, but some have the gangrenous type. Gangrenous ischemic colitis is particularly severe.

People with this condition are likely to require surgical intervention when symptoms appear. Learn more about ischemic colitis here. Ischemic colitis occurs due to a lack of blood flow to the colon.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as heart disease and other conditions that affect blood flow. When these good bacteria die, often after a person has taken antibiotics , the presence of C.

Pseudomembranous colitis can occur due to taking medications that destroy healthy bacteria, such as antibiotics. Colitis can also come from conditions that are not related to IBD. One of these is cytomegalovirus CMV , which is a common strain of the herpes virus. One article notes that symptoms can be nonspecific and mimic those of IBD. However, a person may experience:. If a person with CMV develops symptoms of colitis, they should contact a doctor as soon as possible. It does not typically cause any symptoms.

Treatment options will depend on the type and severity of symptoms that a person is experiencing. There are different types of medications that a doctor may suggest, including :. Surgery may also be desirable to people who are benefiting from medication but still finding that the condition affects their quality of life. There is no way to prevent colitis. However, a person can take steps to help manage the condition and reduce its symptoms. Research indicates that people who smoke are twice as likely to experience IBD than people who do not smoke.

This is because of a certain protein in the lungs that smoking can activate. Learn more about natural remedies for managing ulcerative colitis here.

On this page. Symptoms of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis Complications of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis Collagenous colitis affects the collagen layer Lymphocytic colitis involves a build-up of immune cells Causes of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis Diagnosis of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis Treatment of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis No link to colon cancer Where to get help Things to remember.

Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are types of inflammatory bowel disease IBD that involve inflammation of the colon, the last portion of the bowel that ends at the anus. Lymphocytic colitis is so similar to collagenous colitis that some researchers believe them to be different stages of the same condition.

However, this theory is unproven. The most common symptom of both collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis is chronic non-bloody diarrhoea. Neither condition is contagious. There is no cure, but lifestyle changes and medical treatment can manage the symptoms in most cases. Symptoms of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis Symptoms and signs may include: watery diarrhoea that does not contain blood or pus the diarrhoea may be chronic, or may come and go bowel incontinence abdominal cramps nausea abdominal bloating and discomfort fatigue.

Complications of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis Without treatment, complications may include: dehydration malabsorption of food nutrients malnutrition weight loss. Collagenous colitis affects the collagen layer The inner surface of the colon is lined with epithelial cells and is called the epithelium.

The epithelium absorbs water from faeces. Beneath the epithelium is a layer of tough connective tissue made up of collagen, a type of protein that gives strength to many structures, including tendons, bones and skin. Collagenous colitis gets its name because the inflammation takes place within the collagen layer of the colon, which becomes thickened. Lymphocytic colitis involves a build-up of immune cells While lymphocytic colitis causes identical symptoms to collagenous colitis, the condition does not involve the collagen layer.

Like collagenous colitis, the outer lining of the colon epithelium is undamaged, so there is no blood or pus in the diarrhoea.

Theories include: infection with an unknown virus or bacterium problems with the immune system such as an autoimmune disorder, which means the immune system attacks a healthy part of the body by mistake.

Diagnosis of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 60 and Diagnosis may include: medical history physical examination tests such as a stool culture to rule out other gastrointestinal diseases colonoscopy, the use of a slender viewing tube inserted into the colon via the anus to view the entire length of the colon.

The lining of the colon should appear normal flexible sigmoidoscopy, the use of a viewing tube inserted through the anus to view the rectum. The lining of the rectum should appear normal biopsy, the removal of a small tag of tissue for examination in a laboratory, is essential for diagnosis.