Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with Colitis? If so, you may be trying to get answers about this inflammatory gastrointestinal condition, what causes it, its symptoms and how it's best treated. Our Wausau, WI, gastroenterologists have you covered. Here’s what you should know about this intestinal disorder:
What is Colitis?
This condition causes inflammation and sometimes ulcers within the colon and rectum. There are several different kinds of colitis such as infectious, ischemic, ulcerative, microscopic and medication-induced.
What are the symptoms of colitis?
The most common symptoms of colitis are chronic diarrhea and a persistent urge to have a bowel movement. It’s common for there to be blood in the stool when you have ulcerative colitis. Along with diarrhea, you may also experience weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue, and fever.
Some patients even experience spasms of the rectum. If you’ve been noticing persistent or bloody diarrhea or abdominal pain, it’s a good idea to give your GI doctor in Wausau a call to schedule an evaluation.
What causes this intestinal disorder?
Research is still being done to discover the causes of ulcerative colitis; however, it is believed that family history does play a role in who develops this condition and who doesn’t. If a family member has had colitis there is a chance you could have it too. Of course, environmental factors may also be to blame, as higher rates of colitis have been found within urban settings.
How is colitis treated?
The treatment options that are best for you will depend on the cause of your colitis. Once we figure out what’s causing it we can recommend the proper treatment options. For example, if colitis is due to an infection, you may need a round of antibiotics.
If your colitis is due to an autoimmune disease, called ulcerative colitis, you may need any one of several kinds of medications. Common options include anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids, immunomodulators and immunosuppressant’s (to reduce inflammation). We will discuss the best options for you.
GI Associates of Wausau, WI, is here to help you feel better. No matter if you are dealing with unexplained abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, blood in the stool or other symptoms, it’s important that you have a team of GI specialists who can help. Call us today to schedule an appointment with us.