What is the cause of Microscopic Colitis?
Finer Health and Nutrition : Educational Information : Frequ...Extensive data from animals (mainly rodents) suggest that any form of colitis is the result of the body's immune system setting up an unusual attack on the bacteria living in the colon. What makes the body suddenly recognize these bacteria as harmful and worthy of this attack is not fully understood but there are several clues based on my research. First, it is known that aspirin and other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID's) can cause this reaction.
Related QuestionsWhat is microscopic colitis?
Finer Health and Nutrition : Educational Information : Frequ...Microscopic colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon that causes chronic diarrhea and sometimes abdominal pain. Because the majority of the inflammation can only be visualized using a microscope of biopsies, it is called "microscopic". Although originally the colon seen at colonoscopy was thought to be normal, it is routine to notice patchy areas of mild redness and swelling. In fact, I (Dr.
Related QuestionsHow should Microscopic Colitis be treated?
Finer Health and Nutrition : Educational Information : Frequ...I have studied the use of Pepto Bismol (Procter and Gamble) for the last 6 years and have achieved good results and learned a lot about the syndrome from these studies. However, although Pepto Bismol will relieve diarrhea in 90% and resolve the colitis on biopsies in about 80%, 20-30% experience relapses after they stop the medicine, and 10% do not respond initially.
Related QuestionsWhy does microscopic colitis mainly affect women?
Finer Health and Nutrition : Educational Information : Frequ...Although not totally understood, microscopic colitis appears to be in the family of autoimmune syndromes, all of which are more common in women. It is likely that the proinfllammatory effects of estrogen are responsible for this predisposition.
Related QuestionsCan ulcerative colitis (UC) cause health problems in parts of the body other than the colon?
Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseNo one knows why these health problems are common in people with UC. The immune system may trigger inflammation in other parts of the body. These problems are usually mild and go away when the colitis is treated. Osteoporosis is also more common among people with UC. This may be because their diets don't contain enough calcium and vitamin D. Plus, UC can prevent the body from absorbing enough calcium. Corticosteroids, medicines used to treat UC, can also boost a person's risk of osteoporosis.
Related QuestionsCan microscopic colitis be associated with symptoms other than diarrhea or abdominal pain?
Finer Health and Nutrition : Educational Information : Frequ...Because microscopic colitis is a chronic inflammatory syndrome associated with production by the immune system of chemical mediators that circulate in the blood, patients with microscopic colitis often experience fatigue, joint pains, muscle aches and fibromyalgia, and even fever is possible. Because the genes involved also predispose to other autoimmune syndromes, such diseases (like arthritis, thyroid disease, etc.) do occur in patients with microscopic colitis.
Related QuestionsWhat is ulcerative colitis?
Health InformationUlcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease in which the inner lining of the large intestine (colon or bowel) and rectum become inflamed. Inflammation usually begins in the rectum and lower (sigmoid) intestine and spreads upward to the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, the ileum. The inflammation causes diarrhea, or frequent emptying of the colon.
Related QuestionsActive Manuka Honey Internal UsesUlcerative Colitis (Colitis/ Proctitis) is a painful inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers in the lining of the large intestine. Because of the inflammation of the rectum the colon empties frequently. That results in frequent diarrhea. The inflammation gradually kills the healthy cells in the lining of the colon, producing bleeding ulcers in the intestinal wall that create pus. The disease mainly occurs between the ages 15 and 40, less frequently between the ages 50 and 70.Related Questions
Do Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have the same cause?
Canadian Society of Intestinal Research • Ibd FaqThis has been a source of debate for many years. Some feel that the cause is the same and that different types of inflammation are due to the different locations of the disease process. Others feel that they are two unrelated disease processes and share only the fact that they involve intestinal tissue. More research is required to clarify this important question.
Related QuestionsCan you catch proctitis, colitis or ulcerative colitis is it infectious?
The Proctitis PagesANS: My opinion is NO!!, I have spoke to many many people in the last few years with proctitis, colitis, IBD & I have never heard of a single case being reported due to an infection or an infectious agent. I have not seen any convincing medical evidence to suggest that proctitis, colitis or I.B.D are infectious & so be passed on to other people. The truth is that western doctors don't know what the triggers are that set off or cause these conditions.
Related QuestionsIs ulcerative colitis an autoimmune disease?
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is certainly a malfunction in the immune system that takes place in ulcerative colitis. However, immunosuppressive medications used to keep individuals from rejecting transplanted organs have shown less effectiveness in treating ulcerative colitis than in treating Crohn's disease.
Related QuestionsIs ulcerative colitis life threatening?
Frequently Asked QuestionsUlcerative colitis is very rarely life threatening. Cases of toxic megacolon or excessive bleeding due a very severe flare-up where the colon swells up massively can be life threatening, which is why surgery is undertaken quickly if these conditions develop. Normally, ulcerative colitis is a chronic, life-long illness, characterized by periods of few symptoms, known as remission, and periods of very active disease, known as flare-ups. Ulcerative colitis is not a strictly genetic disease.
Related QuestionsWhat causes ulcerative colitis?
Health InformationAlthough many theories about what causes ulcerative colitis exist, none has been proven. The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, and currently there is no cure, except through surgical removal of the colon. A theory suggests that some agent, possibly a virus or an atypical bacterium, interacts with the body's immune system to trigger an inflammatory reaction in the intestinal wall.
Related QuestionsWho is affected by ulcerative colitis?
Health InformationAlthough children and older people sometimes develop ulcerative colitis, it most often affects people ages 15 to 40. It affects males and females equally and appears to run in some families.
Related QuestionsWhy is ulcerative colitis a concern?
Health InformationUlcerative colitis requires long-term medical care. There may be remissions - periods when the symptoms go away - that last for months or even years. However, usually symptoms eventually return. Only in rare cases, when complications occur, is the disease fatal. If only the rectum and lower colon are involved, the risk of cancer is not higher than normal. However, the risk of colon cancer is greater than normal in children with widespread ulcerative colitis.
Related QuestionsWhat are the symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
Health InformationThe following are the most common symptoms for ulcerative colitis. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: The symptoms of ulcerative colitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
Related QuestionsHow is ulcerative colitis diagnosed?
Health InformationA thorough physical examination, including blood tests to determine whether an anemic condition exists, or if the white blood cell count is elevated (a sign of inflammation), is part of the diagnostic process. Symptoms that suggest ulcerative colitis may also be evaluated with the following procedures: colonoscopy - a test that uses a long, flexible tube with a light and camera lens at the end (colonoscope) to examine inside the large intestine.
Related QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions About Inflammatory Bowel Disease ...Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. Ulcers form where inflammation has killed the cells that usually line the colon, then bleed and produce pus. Inflammation in the colon also causes the colon to empty frequently, causing diarrhea.Related Questions
What treatments are available for Ulcerative Colitis?
Active Manuka Honey Internal UsesMost patients are treated with medicine prescribed by their doctor. Most of the times a combination of medications and a change in the diet help Ulcerative Colitis patients. By avoiding certain foods, the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis can be substantially relieved. Patients can thereby improve their quality of life with Ulcerative Colitis. However different experiences have been reported. Therefore the treatment has to be designed individually. In severe cases (25%-40%) surgery is necessary.
Related QuestionsHow can I prevent Ulcerative Colitis?
Active Manuka Honey Internal UsesSince the causes for Ulcerative Colitis have not been found yet, there is no possible way to prevent this disease. People with Ulcerative Colitis can only prevent symptoms to become more severe.
Related QuestionsHow important a factor is stress when it comes to proctitis, colitis or ulcerative colitis?
The Proctitis PagesANS: Unfortunately Stress "IS" a major factor that contributes to people becoming poorly with these digestive conditions. Particularly stress in the work place. My guess is that people who end up with these digestive conditions tend to have a lower stress management level than other people (don't deal with or manage stress well) before the stress effects begin to have a destructive effect on the persons health & well being.
Related QuestionsCan Proctitis or colitis, or ulcerative colitis affect my sex life or sexual energy?
The Proctitis PagesANS: Unfortunately the answer is YES!, you may find that being tired a great deal reduces your sex drive at times. This is however likely to be a temporary experience. Thus as you get better so will your sexual drive pick up once again.
Related QuestionsWhat causes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?
CCFC Crohn's and Colitis - FAQ'sThis is the question most often asked, but unfortunately the answer is still not known. It is likely that several factors work together. There may be an inherited predisposition that places an individual at higher risk of developing IBD. Research among families with more than one affected member will be important in discovering what accounts for this predisposition. Some trigger in the environment sets up the inflammation, and in the predisposed individual this does not go away.
Related QuestionsCan Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis be fatal?
CCFC Crohn's and Colitis - FAQ'sCrohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic diseases, meaning they recur throughout a person's life. The rate of recurrence is different for everyone, and some people can go years between disease relapses. Naturally, the severity of the disease varies from person to person, but most people lead active and full lives after being diagnosed. The life expectancy of those with Crohn's disease and /or colitis is normal. They are not considered terminal diseases.
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