Signs of spastic colitis and its other forms, treatment, prevention

Causes of colitis. Types, classification

Treatment for ulcerative colitis in adults and its other forms is different. To differentiate them, a classification has been developed that systematizes colitis.

According to the course of colitis there are:

acute – the symptoms are vivid, grow quickly, and cannot be confused with the symptoms of other diseases;
chronic – develops slowly, symptoms are not expressed. Periods of remission (no signs) alternate with periods of exacerbation.

Depending on the cause, the following colitis is distinguished:

ulcerative - its causes are not clear. This colitis is associated with hereditary factors, autoimmune and infectious lesions;
infectious - develops under the influence of infectious agents - nonspecific (staphylococci, streptococci) and specific (Koch bacillus, treponema pallidum). The symptoms of nonspecific colitis in a child and an adult are similar;
ischemic – occurs due to impaired microcirculation in the intestinal wall and its oxygen starvation;
toxic - formed due to the influence of various toxic substances on the mucous membrane of the large intestine. A variety is medicinal colitis;
radiation – develops due to the influence of radiation factors on the intestinal mucosa.

More information about the causes of colitis (for example, what are the causes of pseudomembranous colitis) can be found on the pages of our website https://www.dobrobut.com/.

Depending on the location of the lesion, the following colitis is distinguished:

typhlitis – the cecal mucosa becomes inflamed;
transversitis - the mucous membrane of the transverse colon suffers;
sigmoiditis – the mucous membrane of the sigmoid colon becomes inflamed;
proctitis – inflammation of the rectal mucosa;
pancolitis - the mucous membrane of all parts of the large intestine is affected (for example, with catarrhal colitis in men or women).

Causes of the disease

The appearance of symptoms of colitis can be due to various reasons. The most common provoking factors are:

Getting infected. In case of colitis, the cause of the proliferation of pathogenic flora on the mucous membrane of the organ can be the consumption of food products that have expired. An acute reaction of the body to exposure to toxic substances leads to the active proliferation of infection in the intestines. In addition, various infectious agents can penetrate the body - E. coli, salmonella, dysenteric amoeba and others.
Dietary disorder. Symptoms can be caused by a lack of fiber and other nutrients in the body along with a predominance of low-quality foods. This is a common cause of colitis.
Taking certain groups of medications that lead to disruption of intestinal motility, negatively affects the intestinal microflora and causes colitis.
Congenital anomalies.
Presence of concomitant diseases.
Poisoning. The ingestion of toxic substances leads to acute intoxication of the entire body and causes colitis.
Allergic reactions when taking certain foods that cause unwanted symptoms.
Mechanical irritations. Frequent use of rectal suppositories or cleansing enemas can lead to damage to the mucous membrane and colitis.

It will be possible to effectively treat colitis only after the cause of its occurrence is found.

Signs of catarrhal colitis in men and women

The clinical picture depends on the form of colitis.

Manifestations of acute colitis:

periodic sharp pain in the abdomen. Possible back and lower back pain due to colitis;
constant urge to defecate;
rumbling in the large intestine;
bloating;
severe diarrhea.

Manifestations of chronic colitis:

feeling of fullness and heaviness in the stomach;
pain in the form of colic (contractions) - these are mainly signs of spastic colitis;
urge to defecate;
diarrhea – when the right half of the large intestine is affected;
constipation – if the left half is affected;
fecal stench – observed when putrefactive flora is activated;
flatulence (bloating) – observed when fermentative flora is activated;
blood in the stool - detected in erosive or ulcerative colitis. This is a sign that requires a serious approach to treatment - for example, ordinary antibiotics or suppositories for deep erosive colitis simply will not help.

With long-term colitis the following are observed:

significant weight loss;
general weakness;
manifestations of a lack of vitamins - dry skin and mucous membranes, blurred vision, and so on.

Menstruation may also change with colitis in women - they may become painful.

Acute and prolonged chronic colitis requires hospital treatment. Mild forms of chronic colitis can be treated at home.

Treatment of colitis

One of the fundamental links in the entire process of treating colitis is diet therapy. This is due to a high degree of irritation of the intestinal mucosa caused by colitis. That is why all food consumed should be gentle and easily digestible, which will reduce the load on the organ to a minimum and eliminate symptoms.

During treatment, the patient may be prescribed antibacterial drugs, the main effect of which is to suppress the proliferation of infectious pathogens and completely eliminate them. Colitis provokes severe pain, which can be suppressed by painkillers and antispasmodics.

Another important stage of treatment is the normalization of stool. Undesirable symptoms are eliminated with the help of a cleansing enema or astringents.

Restoring the stability of intestinal motility is possible only with the normalization of the microflora. Enterosorbents, artificial enzymes and probiotics can relieve symptoms. In the presence of concomitant diseases, treatment is selected depending on which organ is affected. More radical measures for colitis are used in cases of complications or the inability to eliminate the signs of the disease using classical treatment methods.

For effective treatment, you should promptly seek help from a medical facility when the first symptoms appear, and adhere to the recommendations of your doctor regarding drug therapy for colitis and the prescribed diet.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made based on complaints, medical history, and the results of additional research methods.

Physical examination data are as follows:

on palpation – pain and bloating;
upon percussion - a dull sound over intestinal loops overflowing with feces;
on auscultation – increased peristalsis due to diarrhea.

The most informative are the following instrumental diagnostic methods:

sigmoidoscopy – examination of the rectum and initial parts of the sigmoid colon using a sigmoidoscope;
colonoscopy – examination of the colonic mucosa using a colonoscope (a flexible probe with an optical system);
irrigoscopy - X-ray examination after administration of a contrast agent into the intestine.

Laboratory methods used in the diagnosis of colitis:

bacteriological examination - stool is inoculated on nutrient media, the pathogen is identified by colonies, and its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs is also determined (important for the choice of antibiotics in case of exacerbation of chronic colitis or its acute form);
bacterioscopic examination of stool - pathogens that cause inflammation of the colon mucosa are identified under a microscope;
fecal analysis for helminth eggs - it is used to identify helminths in the large intestine;
general blood analysis. An increase in the number of leukocytes and ESR indicates the presence of inflammation. A decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin signals intestinal bleeding (mainly with ulcerative colitis).

Symptoms and manifestations

Symptoms of colitis and associated bowel movement disorders are determined by the form of the disease. For example, if the lower intestines are affected, dense and dry stool may be observed, which is characteristic of constipation. However, during periods between bowel movements, mucous or bloody discharge is observed.

Constipation can also be associated with muscle spasms. Researcher R. A. Abdulkhakov states that “in the initial period of the disease, which occurs in the form of proctosigmoiditis, constipation may occur, mainly due to spasm of the sigmoid colon” (Abdulkhakov, 2003, p. 31).

What drugs are prescribed for atrophic colitis and its other forms?

In the treatment of colitis, conservative and surgical methods are used.

Conservative treatment

Patients are interested in what medications should be taken for atrophic colitis or its other forms. This is determined by the doctor in each specific case. Based on the appointments:

diet;
antibacterial or antiparasitic drugs;
agents that improve blood flow in the intestinal wall;
intestinal adsorbents;
laxatives or antidiarrheals;
agents that improve the condition of normal intestinal microflora;
detoxification therapy;
immunomodulators;
pain relief. The doctor decides what medications to use to relieve pain in acute colitis of the rectum or other locations.

Surgical treatment

It is used for severe complications such as ulcerative colitis or progressive ischemia of the large intestine.

If the damage is significant, resection (removal) of part of the intestine is performed. This is fraught with deterioration of its functions:

absorption of vitamins;
absorption of fluid and formation of feces.

Differential diagnosis of the disease

To accurately diagnose Colitis, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic techniques are used. At the initial appointment, the attending physician will conduct a survey of the patient, during which he will identify the intensity of symptoms characteristic of colitis and the frequency of their occurrence. For laboratory testing you will need to take the following tests:

Blood - to determine hemoglobin level, ESR, leukocyte level and platelet concentration.
Feces - to detect the presence of impurities of blood, leukocytes and red blood cells.
Urine - to determine the presence of inflammation.

Analyzes are also examined for the presence of infectious and bacterial agents, as well as their type. During an ultrasound, it is possible to detect changes in the structure of the intestinal walls and intestinal lumen. The condition of other abdominal organs is also examined, which makes it possible to identify the presence of diseases associated with colitis. This will help prescribe the correct comprehensive treatment in the future.

The degree of changes in the organ is determined using the method of contrast irrigoscopy, which involves the introduction of a special substance into the rectum followed by radiography. To exclude the growth of malignant tumors, suspicious intestinal fragments can be sent for a biopsy.

Causes

The main reasons for the development of the disease are:

pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms (bacteria, parasites);
inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (peptic ulcer, gastritis of various etiologies, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, cholelithiasis);
foci of chronic infection in the body (pathologies of the ENT organs, respiratory tract, pustular skin diseases, tuberculosis), from which pathogens can enter the digestive tract and cause inflammation;
nervous tension, chronic stress;
unhealthy diet (overeating, abuse of fried and spicy foods, flour products, sweets, eating low-quality foods, lack of fiber in the diet);
autoimmune diseases;
injuries, operations on the digestive organs, after which adhesions occur and intestinal function is disrupted;
uncontrolled use of certain medications, intoxication of the body;
congenital pathologies of the intestine associated with its expansion or lengthening, the formation of diverticula or polyps;
pathological mobility of intestinal sections;
gluten intolerance, enzyme deficiency.