by : Corwin Brown

Colitis (also called ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon-your large intestine or bowel. Colitis causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, called the ileum.

Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the small intestine and colon. It can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders and to another type of IBD called Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease differs because it causes inflammation deeper within the intestinal wall and can occur in other parts of the digestive system including the small intestine, mouth, esophagus, and stomach.

Causes of Colitis

Heredity: Because you're more likely to develop ulcerative colitis if you have a parent or sibling with the disease, scientists suspect that genetic makeup may play a contributing role. Research into which genetic mutations might increase susceptibility to ulcerative colitis is ongoing.

Although there is much scientific evidence that patients with IBD have abnormalities of the immune system, doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of the disease. Doctors believe that there is little basis for the idea that Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are caused by stress or diet.

Environment - Several environmental factors, such as infections, are suspected of triggering UC in people who have a genetic susceptibility. However, no single factor has been consistently proven to be the primary trigger. The bacteria that normally live in the colon also have an important role in the development of the disease, since animals at risk for UC do not develop it when raised in a bacteria-free environment.

Infectious agents or environmental toxins: No single agent has been associated consistently with either form of inflammatory bowel disease. Viruses have been reported in tissue from people with inflammatory bowel disease, but there is no compelling evidence.

Treatment for Colitis

Surgery is necessary in an emergency such as perforation (a hole in the colon), severe bleeding, or toxic megacolon, a dangerous condition where the colon becomes extremely distended, causing a person to become severely ill with a high fever.

Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine): Sulfasalazine can be effective in reducing symptoms of ulcerative colitis, but it has a number of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, heartburn and headache. Don't take this medication if you're allergic to sulfa medications.

The physician will recommend avoiding certain medications such as nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Sometimes conditions improve when patients avoid substances that may increase the chance of diarrhea, such as foods and beverages that contain caffeine and lactose.

Short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, exist in the lining of the colon. These nutrients are produced during digestion of complex carbohydrates. The intestinal lining of individuals with ulcerative colitis may not produce these nutrients. In several small trials, 35 of 41 people with ulcerative colitis benefited from SCFA enemas.

Laxatives: In some cases, swelling may cause your intestines to narrow, leading to constipation. Talk to your doctor before taking any laxatives, because even those sold over-the-counter may be too harsh for your system.

Drug therapy aims to improve the quality of life for people with colitis by inducing and maintaining remission, or symptom-free periods. There are three types of drugs most commonly prescribed to treat colitis. These include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and immunomodulatory medicines.