Colitis

Definition: There is an number of chronic inflammatory
diseases of the colon.  Some of these are 
Ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis, Crohn's
disease, pseudomembranous enterocolitis,
ishemic colitis, bile salt diarrhea, short
bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome,
secretory diarrhea and diverticular disease.

Symptoms can include chronic diarrhea, bloody
diarrhea, fever, anemia, crampy abdominal pain,

Therapy:  These problems are chronic diseases and
are best treated by a single physician or a small group
of physicians working together.  Treatments will need
to be individualized and it will be important to
establish regular physician visits for maintainence
of this chronic problem.

People with these problems will need to have regular
supplies of pain medicines for painful episodes,
antibiotics when infections occur and they will need
adequate training for taking care of this problem
through time.

Colitis is an inflammatory condition of the
large intestine.  It can cause bloody stools,
diarrhea, abdominal pain and abscesses.

It is a chronic disease and will require
medical maintaince through time.