Intestinal colitis: symptoms and treatment, drugs and diet

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are the most common pathologies today, since poor nutrition, stress and many other factors contribute to the disruption of the normal functioning of organs digestion. One of the typical diseases is colitis. This term refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the intestine, which in some cases can lead to atrophy of its mucous membrane.

Causes

Basically, colitis occurs due to the penetration of infection into the intestines. However, such factors as can lead to pathology:

• inappropriate nutrition (dry food, abuse of fast food, food with chemical additives, spicy, sour and spicy food);
  

  Poor nutrition, a large number of seasonings, spices

• congenital disorders;
• dysbiosis - a lack of useful microflora due to prolonged use of antibiotics and other drugs;
  

  Intestinal dysbiosis

• alcohol abuse;
• diseases of neighboring organs, due to which there is a lack of essential enzymes (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, splenitis);
• the use of drugs that violate the acid-base balance in the intestine.
  

  Many drugs disrupt the acid-base balance

Often, the disease occurs due to several reasons at the same time.

Views

Depending on the cause of the inflammation, colitis is divided into the following forms.

Views	Description
1. Mechanical	It occurs due to frequent constipation, the constant use of laxatives, the use of enemas.
2. Drug	Irrational or prolonged use of any medications leads to inflammation.
3. Allergic	The main reason is the specific reaction of the body to any food or medicine.
4. Toxic	Subdivided into: Exogenous, when poisoning occurs with hazardous substances that have entered the body from the outside (arsenic, mercury); Endogenous, when the body is poisoned with the products of its own vital activity (for example, an increased amount of urate accumulates or peritonitis occurs).
5. Infectious	It occurs with the penetration of certain types of fungi, microbes and bacteria (salmonellosis, tuberculosis).
6. Alimentary	Occurs when eating junk food.
7. Invasive	In case of intestinal damage by helminths (pinworms, round, tapeworms).

Also, colitis can be divided into:

• acute - symptoms occur sharply, they are pronounced;
• chronic - the symptoms are often hidden, the disease progresses slowly and is often disguised as other types of gastrointestinal pathologies;
• specific unclear etiology - the cause of such colitis cannot be fully clarified.

Types of colitis.

1. Nonspecific ulcerative colitis - inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, accompanied by its ulceration. The main reasons for its development are assumed to be immune failure or genetic predisposition. Such colitis is divided into: left-sided, when the colon or sigmoid colon is affected, proctitis, when the rectum is affected, and total, when the entire intestine is involved.
2. Catarrhal - the initial stage of intestinal inflammation. It mainly manifests itself as a consequence of another disease. The causes of such colitis are most often: vitamin deficiency, stress, weakened immunity.
   

   Colitis, catarrhal and erosive

3. Diffuse (pancolitis) - not only the large intestine is affected, but also the small intestine. The symptoms are pronounced and similar to those of gastritis.
4. Erosive - with this variant of the disease, the intestinal mucosa undergoes erosion, but perforation and ulceration does not occur. The symptoms of this type of colitis include all the typical signs: pain, flatulence, heartburn, nausea, loss of appetite.
5. Spastic - characterized by a decrease in the function of the large intestine, in some places, moreover, it can be narrowed, and in others it can be expanded. This is the least serious type of disease and it is expressed mainly in persistent constipation.
6. Atrophic - is a direct consequence of spastic colitis. Due to prolonged stagnant processes in the intestine, smooth muscles atrophy. Over time, this type can turn into ulcerative.
   

   Colitis of the intestine

For reference! Some forms of colitis can develop into bowel cancer. Therefore, timely treatment and compliance with all medical instructions are necessary.

Symptoms

At first, the symptoms are mild, and sometimes the disease is completely hidden. A person may be disturbed by recurrent skin rashes, dry mouth, delayed bowel movements.

As the disease progresses, the symptoms take on a different color. The following signs of colitis:

• heaviness in the abdomen;
• bloating;
• pain in the lower abdomen;
  

  Colitis abdominal pain

• diarrhea, constipation;
• false urge to defecate;
  

  The most common manifestations of the disease are diarrhea with blood or pus, pain and discomfort in the abdomen

• the presence of mucus, blood, or pus in the stool;
• painful cramps after eating or on palpation of the abdomen.
  

  Colitis often causes painful cramping

The painful sensations are dull and aching in nature, often the pain spreads throughout the abdomen, then during attacks it is localized in one place.

Attention! Symptoms of acute colitis are similar to those of appendicitis. It is necessary first of all to exclude inflammation of the appendix in order to prevent peritonitis.

Diagnostics

Diagnostics is carried out primarily by oral questioning of the patient. It is necessary to find out whether he has chronic or hereditary diseases, what is his diet and lifestyle.

After that, the doctor palpates the abdomen and prescribes a number of laboratory tests.

It is necessary to pass tests:

• urine (general and bacteriological culture);
• blood (general and biochemical);
• feces (coprogram);
• on the egg leaf.

To clarify the diagnosis, procedures such as:

• irrigoscopy - examination of the intestine with a contrast agent introduced into it using an X-ray;
• colonoscopy - examination of the intestines using a flexible probe, at the end of which there is a camera;
• biopsy - taking a small sample of intestinal tissue to test for cancer
• finger examination.

Treatment

Treatment for colitis depends on whether it is acute or chronic.

In any case, people with such a disease are shown a special sparing diet that will not irritate the mucous membrane or contribute to its inflammation.

The following principles must be adhered to.

1. Food should be fractional: at one time you need to eat as much as would fit in two folded palms.
2. It is better if the food is grated or pureed.
3. It is necessary to exclude from the diet everything that is spicy, sour, fried.
4. Foods that cause flatulence (this can be both common bread, legumes, milk, cabbage, and individual allergens) should be removed from the menu.
5. It is better to steam, bake or boil food in water.
6. Food should not be too hot or cold.

You can start gradually expanding your menu only after stopping acute colitis and with the permission of a doctor.

Of the medications, the following drugs can be distinguished.

1. Antibacterial agents for the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms.
2. Anthelmintic drugs to remove parasites.
3. Probiotics and prebiotics to restore normal intestinal microflora.
   

   Colibacterin, bifidumbacterin, bificol

4. Anti-inflammatory drugs. Both tablets and rectal suppositories can be used.
5. Antispasmodics for pain.
6. Antidiarrheals for acute diarrhea.
7. Laxatives (tablets or suppositories) for constipation.
8. Antihistamines to eliminate allergies and reduce mucosal edema.
9. Enzymatic agents for improving digestion.
10. Sorbents to eliminate toxins in the intestines.
11. Means to reduce flatulence and bloating.

Physiotherapy is also used for treatment, which includes:

• electrophoresis;
• mud applications;
• magnetic therapy;
• ultraviolet irradiation.

In some cases, if conservative treatment has not brought results, surgical intervention is required, for example, to remove ulcers and neoplasms.

The use of folk remedies is permissible only with the approval of a doctor and after a clear diagnosis has been made, otherwise you can only harm. The following recipes are especially popular in the treatment of intestinal inflammation:

1. Mint infusion. About 2 tbsp. l. pour a glass of boiling water over dried leaves, let it brew for at least an hour, drain. Consume 2 tablespoons before meals.
   

   Mint infusion

2. Parsley root. Pour the parsley root grated on a fine grater with a glass of boiling water and let it brew for 5 hours (preferably in a thermos). Strain the resulting infusion and take ¼ glass before each meal.
   

   Parsley root

3. Alder cones. It is necessary to pour a handful of cones with boiling water (2 glasses) and cook over high heat for about 15-20 minutes. Then the broth must be filtered, add about a glass of boiled water to it. The remedy can be used like regular tea, sugar and even honey can be added there.
   

   Alder cones

To prevent colitis, it is enough to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, do not use drugs (especially antibiotics) uncontrollably, and avoid constipation.

Like any disease, it is better to identify colitis in the early stages and undergo treatment in a timely manner than to deal with complications later.

Video - Symptoms and treatment of ulcerative colitis