Welcome to the Colitis Channel

Colitis is a medical term that means inflammation of the colon. There are several conditions that cause colitis including collagenous colitis, pseudomembranous colitis, and lymphocytic colitis to name a few. However, the two most common conditions that cause colitis include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. These conditions are also the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD for short.

 

In a person with Crohn's disease, the intestines have become irritated and inflamed, which can cause them to empty more frequently -- leading to diarrhea. Crohn's often affects the small intestines along with the colon. When it just affects the colon, it is also known as Crohn's colitis. Ulcerative colitis, which causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine and rectum, can result in abdominal pain (or stomach pain), diarrhea, and rectal bleeding, among other symptoms. Having ulcerative colitis also increases a person's chances of developing colon cancer.

 

Welcome to the Colitis Health Channel by eMedTV. Here you will find detailed information on several types of colitis. Whether you are living with Crohn's disease and would like to know what dietary changes you can make to help your symptoms -- or are curious about the potential complications of the disease -- you will find useful information here. And whether you are trying to find out what to expect during an evaluation for ulcerative colitis, or what types of medication may be used to treat lymphocytic colitis, you will also find what you're looking for on this channel. From colitis medication to toxic megacolon, we have the information you need.

 

You can begin your eMedTV colitis experience by clicking on any of the featured colitis links on this page. You can also begin by clicking on the health topics listed to the left or by using the search box at the top of the page.