Chronic colitis: signs, types and treatment of bowel disease

Chronic colitis is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine with a long wave-like course. Pathology often occurs due to a violation of diet and develops in people aged 30-40 years. Chronic colitis can occur against a background of untreated intestinal infection, while the disease is registered in children and adults of any age category.

The chronic form of the disease in 60% of cases occurs against the background of another pathology of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, enteritis, pancreatitis, duodenitis. It occurs after acute inflammation of the large intestine, if refusal of treatment or inadequate therapy.

Patients with chronic colitis should be observed regularly with a gastroenterologist and undergo anti-relapse treatment courses. Otherwise, frequent exacerbations of the disease occur and the risk of complications of increases.

In this article we will describe what is chronic colitis, discuss classification, causes, clinical signs, methods of diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Thanks to this information, it is possible to prevent or suspect a disease at an early stage of development, to consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Classification of the disease

In medical practice, the classification of chronic colitis helps to determine correctly the tactics of treatment, assess the prognosis of the disease, possible consequences and complications.

The etiological( causative) factor of colitis is :

• is infectious - due to intestinal infection;
• alimentary - against the background of malnutrition;
• is allergic - due to allergic organism;
• intoxication - as a result of poisoning;
• Radiation - after exposure to ionizing radiation;
• congenital - due to congenital anomalies of colon development.

According to the pathomorphological( intestinal wall structure) feature :

• chronic catarrhal colitis - inflammation of the intestinal mucosa;
• chronic atrophic colitis - thinning of the mucosa, a violation of the function of the secretory glands;
• chronic erosive colitis - mucosal defects prone to bleeding;
• chronic ulcerative colitis - ulcers of the mucous, leading to intestinal bleeding.

According to the functional feature :

• chronic spastic colitis - causes a tendency to diarrhea;
• chronic atonic colitis - cries for a tendency to constipation.

Statistically, at a gastroenterologist's appointment, 40% of patients are diagnosed with a chronic form of the disease.

Why develops chronic colitis

In most cases, the disease develops against a background of prolonged disruption of diet and diet. Alimentary causes contribute to the development of chronic inflammation in the wall of the large intestine, disrupt secretory function and peristalsis, increase the risk of intestinal infections and dysbiosis.

Improper diet leads to a disruption in the function of the upper parts of the digestive tract( stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine), which subsequently leads to colitis.

Reasons for the appearance of chronic colitis :

• malnutrition - abuse of fatty, spicy food, flour products, alcohol;
• a rare meal - 1-2 times a day, mostly in the evening;
• intoxication - occupational hazards, poisoning with arsenic, mercury, medicines;
• food allergy - food intolerance;
• exposure to radiation - high doses of ionizing radiation;
• congenital malformations of the intestine - shortening and lengthening of the large intestine, diverticula, narrowing of the intestinal lumen;

Adverse factors: smoking, drinking alcohol, eating dry, chronic stress cause exacerbation of chronic colitis and aggravate the course of the disease.

Clinical features

The chronic form of the disease is characterized by an undulating course - the periods of well-being( remission) replace the deterioration of the condition( exacerbation).During the remission, the general condition is not broken, the intestine is functioning normally. Sometimes patients note a worsening of appetite, weight loss, bloating.

Clinical signs of the disease appear during the period of exacerbation. Chronic left-sided colitis is more often associated with sigmoid damage, right-sided - with inflammation of the cecum.

Symptoms of chronic intestinal colitis :

• bloating due to increased gas formation in the large intestine( flatulence);
• rumbling, a feeling of transfusion in the intestines 1.5-2 hours after ingestion;
• blunt or cramping abdominal pain after eating or during stool;
• pain syndrome occurs in the lower and lateral parts of the abdomen, sometimes without a clear localization;
• stool disorder( constipation, diarrhea, constipation alternating with diarrhea);False desires for defecation;
• ;
• feeling of incomplete emptying of the rectum;
• feces by "lumps", an admixture of mucus, blood veins;
• fetid smell of stool;
• increase in temperature to 37.2-37, 7 degrees with an infectious form of the disease;
• skin rash;
• appetite impairment, weakness, weight loss, disability.

In infectious colitis, the chronic form is preceded by an acute course of the disease: diarrhea 3-15 times a day, nausea, vomiting, cramping abdominal pain. In some cases, the intestinal infection has an erased course with minor clinical manifestations and often remains unnoticed.

Symptoms of chronic intestinal colitis are gradually increasing and, in the absence of treatment, disrupt the evacuation function of the large intestine, which leads to intoxication of the body with calves.

Diagnosis

At the initial reference the doctor finds out the complaints, the possible causes of the pathology, evaluates the patient's condition. The specialist conducts a physical examination: palpates( feels) and perculates( tapes) the stomach, determines the presence of a plaque on the tongue and rash on the skin. Based on an objective examination, a preliminary diagnosis is made.

For clarification of the diagnosis, instrumental and laboratory tests are prescribed:

1. General analysis of blood and urine. Biochemistry of blood.
2. .
3. Analysis of feces - coprogram.
4. Irrigoscopy is a radiography of the large intestine with a contrast agent.
5. Colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the large intestine.
6. Recto-manoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the rectum.
7. Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity organs.
8. FGDS - endoscopic examination of the stomach and duodenum.

After the diagnostic examination, therapy is prescribed for the disease.

Treatment tactic

Treatment of chronic intestinal colitis should be started at the first manifestations of the disease. Timely therapy prevents the development of complications and the occurrence of irreversible changes. How to treat chronic colitis of the intestine, tells the doctor, whose recommendations must be strictly observed. The correct therapeutic tactics will help to achieve long-term remission and improve overall health.

For the recovery during the exacerbation of the disease, pharmacological treatment of chronic colitis is carried out. The patient is hospitalized in the hospital - gastroenterology or therapy in the absence of the profile department in the hospital. Treatment begins with the appointment of dietary nutrition. Without therapeutic nutrition, conservative therapy will not be effective enough.

Conservative treatment:

• antimicrobial and antibacterial drugs in infectious form( Loperamide, Furazolidone, Tetracycline);
• probiotics for the restoration of intestinal microflora( Bifikol, Acipol, Bifidumbacterin);
• antispasmodics to eliminate spasms and pain syndrome( Duspatalin, No-sppa, Papaverina hydrochloride);
• cholagogue with concomitant impairment of the secretory function of the liver( Allochol, Hofitol, rose hips syrup);
• enzymes with concomitant disturbance of the secretory function of the pancreas and small intestine( Pansinorm, Mezim, Creon);
• astringents for colitis with diarrhea( inside - decoction of cherry fruits, cones of alder, rhizomes of cinquefoil, enema - with chamomile and protargol);
• preparations for elimination of flatulence( Activated charcoal, Espumizan, Smecta, peppermint infusion);
• Vitaminotherapy for improving the healing of the tissues of the intestinal wall( nicotinic acid, vitamins B, Biomax, Vitrum).

For the treatment of chronic colitis with constipation appoint laxative drugs: Dokuzat, Sennade, Bisakodil. Recommend curative gymnastics, stomach massage, therapeutic enemas to stimulate peristalsis of the bowel.

Now we will tell you how to treat chronic colitis in the intestines at home and whether it is possible to cure chronic colitis with folk remedies. When the disease worsens, you need to see a doctor for prescribing medication. After finishing the course of treatment and achieving remission, you can use folk remedies.

Recipes of alternative medicine are used to prevent disease and prevent exacerbation. With pronounced symptoms of chronic colitis, treatment with folk remedies will not be effective enough.

Folk therapy is the treatment of herbs for chronic colitis.

Recipe No.1

For constipation, use an infusion of cones of alder. A tablespoon of the ground raw material pour a glass of boiling water, insist 3 hours, strain through a sieve. Drink a decoction of half a glass before meals three times a day. The course of treatment is 12-14 days.

Recipe No.2

With meteorism, prescribe sage infusion. A tablespoon of crushed dry leaves pour 2 cups of boiling water, insist 40 minutes, strain through a sieve. Take the decoction of the broth three times a day. The course of treatment is 20-30 days.

Recipe No.3

For diarrhea it is recommended to use plantain juice. Fresh leaves rinse, finely chop and squeeze juice. Mix the liquid with an equal amount of honey, heat the composition in a water bath for 20 minutes. Take the drug twice a day in a teaspoon, store in a refrigerator in a jar with a tightly closed lid. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.

Before using folk recipes, consult a doctor.

Diet for chronic colitis

The diet for chronic colitis of the intestine is called "medical table number 4".It implies fractional( small portions) food intake - up to 7 times a day. The principle of nutrition in chronic colitis: the exclusion of foods and foods that cause mechanical and chemical irritation of the intestinal mucosa. Read more about the diet for chronic colitis →

Allowed:

• Low-fat river fish boiled or steamed;
• liquid porridge on the water;
• vegetable broth;
• boiled chicken, rabbit, veal;
• non-acid curd;
• white rusks;
• jammed, broth of dogrose, not strong green tea.

Excluded:

• oily sea fish;
• pork, beef;
• sour cream, milk;
• eggs;
• baking;
• pearls, barley, millet porridge;
• smoked products, canned food;
• strong coffee, tea, carbonated drinks.

Complications and consequences

With a prolonged course of the disease with frequent exacerbations, the mild form of catarrhal colitis is transformed into a more severe - erosive and ulcerative lesion of the colonic mucosa.

Atrophic colitis disrupts the process of digestion of food, atonic - contributes to the retention of stool and intoxication, spastic - leads to diarrhea, impaired absorption of nutrients. Erosions and ulcers cause bleeding, development of anemia and reproduction of pathogenic microflora in the lumen of the intestine.

Complications of the disease:

• Intestinal bleeding;
• perforation of the intestinal wall, peritonitis;
• formation of fecal calculi, intestinal obstruction;
• colonic cancer;
• is a chronic intoxication of the body.

Symptoms of exacerbation of chronic colitis and treatment should be under the supervision of a physician to prevent the progression of the disease and the development of complications.

Prevention

In order to prevent the development of colitis, you must adhere to the correct diet and diet. Promptly consult a doctor if there are complaints from the gastrointestinal tract, undergo a full course of therapy. Smoking and alcohol abuse should be avoided.

Chronic colitis with proper nutrition and regular preventive examination at the doctor rarely leads to aggravation and development of complications. Long-term remission contributes to the normal functioning of the digestive tract and a good general state of health.

Author: Sichevaya Irina, MD,
Specially for Moizhivot.ru

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