Colitis – Treatment for Colitis

Colitis (also called ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation of
the membrane lining the colon – your large intestine or bowel. Colitis causes
inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the
large intestine. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except
for the lower section, called the ileum.

Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the general name for diseases
that cause inflammation in the small intestine and colon. It can be difficult to
diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders and to
another type of IBD called Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease differs because it
causes inflammation deeper within the intestinal wall and can occur in other
parts of the digestive system including the small intestine, mouth, esophagus,
and stomach.

Causes of Colitis

Heredity: Because you’re more likely to develop ulcerative colitis if you have a
parent or sibling with the disease, scientists suspect that genetic makeup may
play a contributing role. Research into which genetic mutations might increase
susceptibility to ulcerative colitis is ongoing.

Although there is much scientific evidence that patients with IBD have
abnormalities of the immune system, doctors do not know whether these
abnormalities are a cause or a result of the disease. Doctors believe that there
is little basis for the idea that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are
caused by stress or diet.

Environment – Several environmental factors, such as infections, are suspected
of triggering UC in people who have a genetic susceptibility. However, no single
factor has been consistently proven to be the primary trigger. The bacteria that
normally live in the colon also have an important role in the development of the
disease, since animals at risk for UC do not develop it when raised in a
bacteria-free environment.

Infectious agents or environmental toxins: No single agent has been associated
consistently with either form of inflammatory bowel disease. Viruses have been
reported in tissue from people with inflammatory bowel disease, but there is no
compelling evidence.

Treatment for Colitis

Surgery is necessary in an emergency such as perforation (a hole in the colon),
severe bleeding, or toxic megacolon, a dangerous condition where the colon
becomes extremely distended, causing a person to become severely ill with a high
fever.

Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine): Sulfasalazine can be effective in reducing symptoms
of ulcerative colitis, but it has a number of side effects, including nausea,
vomiting, heartburn and headache. Don’t take this medication if you’re allergic
to sulfa medications.

The physician will recommend avoiding certain medications such as nonsteroidal,
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Sometimes
conditions improve when patients avoid substances that may increase the chance
of diarrhea, such as foods and beverages that contain caffeine and lactose.

Short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, exist in the lining of the colon.
These nutrients are produced during digestion of complex carbohydrates. The
intestinal lining of individuals with ulcerative colitis may not produce these
nutrients. In several small trials, 35 of 41 people with ulcerative colitis
benefited from SCFA enemas.

Laxatives: In some cases, swelling may cause your intestines to narrow, leading
to constipation. Talk to your doctor before taking any laxatives, because even
those sold over-the-counter may be too harsh for your system.

Drug therapy aims to improve the quality of life for people with colitis by
inducing and maintaining remission, or symptom-free periods. There are three
types of drugs most commonly prescribed to treat colitis. These include
aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and immunomodulatory medicines.

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