Definition: Colitis refers to any inflammation of the colon (large intestine). This term is often used to refer to the disease ulcerative colitis, but colitis is actually a sign of ulcerative colitis.
There are several different types of colitis, including ischemic colitis, collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis.
Causes of colitis include inflammatory bowel disease (i.e. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), bacterial overgrowth and infection, ischemia (loss of blood flow), viruses, parasitic infections, and radiation therapy.
Symptoms of colitis often include diarrhea and abdominal pain. Some forms of colitis may also cause blood and mucus in the stool, constipation, gas, fever, and urgent need to move the bowels.
Pronunciation: co-LIE-tiss
