Colitis

Colitis
A micrograph demonstrating cryptitis, a microscopic correlate of colitis. H&E stain.
Classification and external resources
Specialty	Gastroenterology
ICD-10	K50 - K52
ICD-9-CM	556.9
OMIM	191390
DiseasesDB	31340
MedlinePlus	001125
eMedicine	ped/435
MeSH	C06.405.205.265
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Colitis (pl. colitides) is an inflammation of the colon.

Colitis may be acute and self-limited or chronic, i.e. persistent, and broadly fits into the category of digestive diseases.

In a medical context, the label colitis (without qualification) is used if:

The signs and symptoms of colitis are quite variable and dependent on the cause of the given colitis and factors that modify its course and severity.

Symptoms of colitis may include: mild to severe abdominal pain and tenderness (depending on the stage of the disease), recurring bloody diarrhea with/without pus in the stools, fecal incontinence, flatulence, fatigue, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.

More severe symptoms may include: shortness of breath, a fast or irregular heartbeat and fever.

Other less or rare non-specific symptoms that may accompany colitis include: arthritis, mouth ulcers, painful, red and swollen skin and irritated, red eyes.

Signs seen on colonoscopy include: colonic mucosal erythema (redness of the inner surface of the colon), ulcers, and bleeding.

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