not known to be hereditary. It is the result of a contaminate or
illness introduced to the body from outside sources. Contaminated
food, intestinal infections caused by a bacterium or a virus, or
parasite invasion are the most common causes. These invaders can
irritate the walls of the colon, causing them to swell.
Consider the colon the waste management system of the body. The job of
this large organ is to make sure that the garbage left behind by the
digestive process is contained, stored and eliminated from the body.
Most of the time the colon does this efficiently. However, if the
inner surfaces of this organ become irritated or swollen, a big
traffic jam can occur. Severe diarrhea, cramps, fever and blood
showing in the stool all announce this condition quite suddenly.
A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in conditions of
the colon and digestive track. It is always recommended that diagnosis
of colitis be left to a medical professional to be sure the proper
treatment can be quickly determined.
If the inflamed colon is caused by a bacterial infection, the normal
treatment is an antibiotic. Viral infections can be treated with an
intake of fluids over a period of time. Inflammation caused by food
poisoning, like E. Coli or Salmonella, will not require antibiotics.
The body will likely heal itself with sufficient water intake and
rest.
The body has a sensitive immune system that normally works quite well.
But occasionally the system gets mixed messages and thinks that a
piece of food is the bad guy. It can mistakenly kick into combat mode
and start to battle against that harmless piece of food. The white
blood cells are increased to attack, causing the cells to coat the
organ lining, irritating and inflaming the walls. A doctor will
normally treat this with a one-two punch: an anti-inflammatory
medication to bring the swelling down, and an anti-immune suppressant
to get the immune system back on track.
Ischemic Colitis can also be developed if the stream of oxygen and
nutrients to the organ are insufficient. There could be several
reasons for a reduction in blood supply, but the result is a build-up
of lactic acid and carbon dioxide in the system. If this occurs, the
digestive track can become toxic. Drinking water alone won't be enough
to fight this. Fortified fluids are usually administered directly into
the circulatory system. If the colitis is extremely serious, surgery
may be required to remove the damaged section of the intestine.
Adjustment to the diet to increase the daily intake of fruits and
vegetables rich in vitamin C is normally recommended. Foods like
oranges, plums, strawberries, red peppers, tomatoes or broccoli are
will help keep the colon healthy.
Avoid sugary sweets as much as possible. A daily intake of Folic Acid,
probiotics, or Omega Fatty Acids is also thought to aide in
maintaining the digestive system.
This medical condition can be introduced into the body at any time, so
finding a colitis cure is unlikely. Proper diet, combined with early
diagnosis and quick, effective treatments, can often reduce the need
for the more serious steps of surgery.
