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What is left sided colitis?

Is colitis a serious condition?

Is colitis a serious condition?

Left sided colitis is a type of ulcerative colitis, which is a condition that causes inflammation in the colon. As its name suggests, left sided colitis affects the left side of the colon.

What is left sided colitis?

Left sided colitis produces symptoms similar to those of other types of ulcerative colitis, including diarrhea and abdominal pain. The condition is not curable, but treatment can reduce symptoms.

Several treatment methods are available to those with the condition, but the treatment and management will vary from case to case.

Left sided colitis, or distal ulcerative colitis, is a form of ulcerative colitis that affects only the last portion of the colon, known as the distal colon. The distal colon extends from the rectum up the colon and stops at the splenic flexure, which is the point where the colon bends.

The distal colon is the most commonTrusted Source location of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It develops when an unusual response by the body’s immune system leads to inflammation in the intestinal tract.

This inflammation causes small ulcers to form in the lining of the colon. These ulcers create mucus and pus and lead to other symptoms.

Left sided colitis is a chronic condition. After receiving a diagnosis, a person usually continues to experience symptoms throughout their life. There is currently no known cure for ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of left sided colitis are very similar to those of many other types of ulcerative colitis.

However, whereas chronic diarrhea is the most common symptom of ulcerative colitis, people with left sided colitis are more likely to experience constipation instead.

These individuals may complain of feeling the constant need to have a bowel movement. This sensation is called tenesmus, and it occurs as a result of irritation and inflammation in the rectum. When people with ulcerative colitis do pass stool, it is usually a very small amount.

Other symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:

  • weight loss
  • dehydration resulting from diarrhea
  • fever
  • abdominal or rectal pain
  • rectal spasms
  • constipation

The stool may also have blood in it. Bloody stools can be a sign of significant damage in the colon.

Anyone with blood in their stool should call their doctor for an appointment. More than just a small streak of blood may require emergency medical attention.

Causes and risk factors

There is no single cause of ulcerative colitis, but there are many theories about why it occurs.

Some researchers believe that ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disorder that targets the digestive system.

What doctors do know is that there are many different risk factors for ulcerative colitis, including:

  • a history of infections and use of antibiotics
  • a family history of ulcerative colitis or other digestive disorders
  • living in a developed nation
  • living further from the equator

These risk factors are not causes of ulcerative colitis, and a person with them will not necessarily get ulcerative colitis. However, these factors make a person more likely to develop the condition.

Diagnosis

Correctly diagnosing left sided colitis is a critical step in its treatment. Doctors will usually perform an examination called an endoscopy, in which they use a camera to create images of the inside of the colon.

The images that endoscopy captures will help the doctor look for signs of inflammation, such as redness, water retention, and other irregularities.

In left sided colitis, signs of the condition will disappear once the camera goes beyond the splenic flexure. Doctors typically use this knowledge to differentiate between left sided colitis and other forms of ulcerative colitis.

Treatment

The treatment for left sided ulcerative colitis will vary depending on a few different factors. The severity of the symptoms and how well a person responds to medications may alter their treatment options.

Medications

Medications are currently the first-line treatment for ulcerative colitis. Depending on where in the colon the symptoms appear, a doctor may recommend taking the medications in various forms:

  • an enema
  • rectal foam
  • suppositories
  • oral tablets
  • intravenous drips

After evaluating the severity of the symptoms, doctors will prescribe one or more different medications to treat left sided colitis.

Medications for left sided ulcerative colitis may include:

5-aminosalicylic acid

Amino salicylates that contain 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) help reduce inflammation in the colon, making them an effective therapy Trusted Source for people with left sided ulcerative colitis.

A 2019 review suggests that rectal 5-ASA therapy may be more effective than oral therapy in the treatment of left sided colitis.

Corticosteroids

While 5-ASA is helpful in the majority of cases, some people do not respond well to it. In these instances, doctors use corticosteroids to help manage the inflammation.

People can often use oral corticosteroids alongside 5-ASA for a more effective treatment.

Immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressant medications target proteins in the immune system that spark the inflammation in ulcerative colitis.

Biologics

Biologics are medications that target an immune system protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to reduce inflammation in the large intestine.

Hospitalization

Severe cases of colitis may require hospitalization. In the hospital, a person will receive intravenous medications and steroids to reduce symptoms.

In rare cases — typically those involving severe damage, inflammation, or bleeding in the affected area — doctors may recommend removing part of the colon.

Complications

Left sided colitis may cause complications, including toxic megacolon and anemia.

Toxic megacolon is a frequent complication of inflammatory bowel disease that causes the colon to dilate as inflammation builds up. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, dehydration, and malnutrition.

Toxic megacolon increases the risk of a ruptured colon. Doctors usually treat the condition with medications and intravenous fluids. They may sometimes recommend surgery.

Anemia can be a further complication of left sided colitis, as losing blood from the inflamed intestines can lead to a low red blood cell count. Doctors may treat the condition with iron supplements or blood transfusions.

source : wikipedia

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