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We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
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The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
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Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
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The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
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Colitis
Definition
Colitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large intestine (colon).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Colitis can have many different causes, including:
- Inflammatory disorders (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's colitis, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis)
- 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
Symptoms
Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal pain that is constant or comes and goes
- Bloody stools
- Chills
- Constant urge to have a bowel movement
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Increased intestinal gas
Signs and tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms, including:
- How long you have had the symptoms
- How severe your pain is
- How often it occurs
- How long it lasts
- How often you have diarrhea
- Whether you have been traveling
The health care provider can diagnose colitis by inserting a flexible tube into the rectum (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) and evaluating specific areas of the colon. Biopsies taken during these tests may show changes related to inflammation.
Other studies that can identify colitis include:
Treatment
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.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
The prognosis varies with each disease. See particular conditions listed above.
Complications
- Bleeding
- Hole in the colon
- Sore (ulceration)
Calling your health care provider
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
Prevention
Prevention depends upon the cause of colitis. See the specific condition.
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