Colitis may be the cause of your frequent tummy troubles. What to know.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Improve gut health with these targeted exercises
These targeted exercises can help with bloating, inflammation and gas.
Reviewed
Whether it's a dull ache, sharp cramp or persistent discomfort, most of us have experienced some degree of stomach pain throughout our lives. While something as mild as indigestion, gas, bloating or anxiety about an upcoming test or public speech can all cause varying degrees of tummy troubles, there are sometimes more serious medical issues to blame.
Ulcers, IBS, kidney stones and even appendicitis are all well-known causes of at times severe stomach cramping or pain. Colitis is another medical condition that can be behind intestinal discomfort, though it's generally less well known than other causes.
Here's what colitis is, what leads to it and how the condition is most commonly treated.
What is colitis?
Colitis is the inflammation of the colon, also known as the large intestine. This inflammation is characterized by "swelling, irritation or damage to the colon's inner lining," says Dr. Alison Mitzner, a board-certified pediatrician in New York City.
Inflammation in this part of the body can lead to abdominal pain and cramping, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, blood in the stool, nausea and an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Food passing through the colon is the body's last stage of digestion, she explains.
Different forms of the condition can "vary in severity, but colitis is especially concerning when it becomes chronic," says Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco. In chronic cases, colitis can cause anemia, dehydration, fever and weight loss.
Chronic colitis "can also raise the risk of colon cancer and other inflammatory diseases and can lead to serious medical complications like colon perforation," he says, which is where a hole forms in the colon wall. Toxic megacolon can also occur, which is "a dangerous condition where the colon swells and stops functioning properly," Nagata explains. He adds that colitis can be particularly worrisome in children "because it may delay growth and development."
How long does it take to digest food? Plus, which foods are easy on the stomach
What is the main cause of colitis?
Any inflammation in the body, including in the colon, occurs as a response to an infection or injury. The various types of colitis are thus categorized around what causes inflammation in the colon to occur.
Infectious colitis is commonly caused by food poisoning-related bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Infectious colitis is the most common type of colitis "and impacts millions of people worldwide each year," says Mitzner.
is commonly caused by food poisoning-related bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Infectious colitis is the most common type of colitis "and impacts millions of people worldwide each year," says Mitzner. Radiation colitis is caused by radiation therapy and is more common among cancer patients, says Nagata.
is caused by radiation therapy and is more common among cancer patients, says Nagata. Parasitic colitis is caused by parasitic organisms associated with cryptosporidium, amoeba or giardia. Worms (called helminths) like trichuris and strongyloides can also be behind parasitic colitis.
is caused by parasitic organisms associated with cryptosporidium, amoeba or giardia. Worms (called helminths) like trichuris and strongyloides can also be behind parasitic colitis. Allergic colitis is caused by food intolerances and can affect anyone but is most common among breastfeeding babies experiencing lactose intolerance, explains Nagata.
is caused by food intolerances and can affect anyone but is most common among breastfeeding babies experiencing lactose intolerance, explains Nagata. Inflammatory bowel diseases include a group of chronic conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis that may include inflammation of the colon as one of their many symptoms.
Are you suddenly lactose intolerant? This is why.
Does colitis go away?
The cause and type of colitis determines the degree of medical attention that is needed. "Some types of colitis, like those from infections, can be short-lived and treatable," says Mitzner. The most common form of treatment is a round of antibiotics. Sometimes infectious colitis even resolves on its own with rest and hydration.
Chronic forms of colitis, on the other hand, "can be more serious when left untreated and can lead to serious complications," Mitzner explains. Common treatments for chronic colitis include anti-inflammatory medications, immune-suppressing drugs, newer treatments like biologics "and dietary changes can also be helpful as some people benefit from low-fiber foods or customized nutrition plans," says Nagata. "In more severe cases, especially if there's damage to the colon, surgery may be needed," he adds.
Not every case of colitis "requires an immediate trip to the doctor," Nagata explains, "but if you or your child has ongoing belly pain, blood in the stool, diarrhea that doesn't go away or a fever that lasts more than a couple of days, it's important to see a healthcare provider."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Colon cancer is spiking in young adults. Scientists are blaming the American diet
Rates of colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers are rising in Americans under the age of 50, researchers said Tuesday. They may know why. An increased risk of early-onset gastrointestinal cancers is associated with obesity, which is also rising in the U.S. That's what scientists say is a 'leading theory' for the surge - noting a 2019 study that found women who were considered obese had nearly double the risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer. Close to half of all U.S. adults are predicted to be obese by 2030, according to research released the same year. The chronic condition can cause inflammation and higher levels of insulin that increases peoples' risk of getting cancer, including several types of gastrointestinal cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other risk factors include smoking, drinking alcohol, eating a Western-style diet and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Earlier this year, new research pointed to the impact of a toxin in the gut, known as colibactin, that can inflict DNA damage on colon cells that leads to the development of cancer. Colibactin is produced by the bacteria E. coli, which is often responsible for foodborne illness. As of now, the specific cause remains unclear but the U.S. is not alone, researchers said. 'The incidence of GI cancers in adults younger than age 50 is rising globally,' explained Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute oncology fellow Dr. Sara Char. In the U.S., scientists found that early-onset cases have shown a 'marked increase' in both American men and women since the mid-1990s. In comparison to American adults born in 1950, those born in 1990 have twice the risk of developing colon cancer and four times the risk of developing rectal cancer, the researchers found. Furthermore, early-onset colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in U.S. for men under 50. For women in the same age group, it's the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Colorectal cancer, the most common type of gastrointestinal cancer, also affects Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Asian people disproportionately. These and other related findings signal a worrying shift — and potentially a need for updated treatment practices, the researchers noted. Patients with early-onset colorectal cancers often experience delays in diagnosis because neither doctors, nor their patients, suspect cancer and doctors are more likely to diagnose patients when they are at advanced stages of the disease. Younger patients are more likely to receive aggressive treatment, 'often without a survival advantage,' they said. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men and the fourth-leading cause in women. Overall, it's the second most common cause of U.S. cancer deaths, and the American Cancer Society says it's expected to cause about 52,900 deaths this year. The researchers pointed out that younger patients are more likely to experience financial hardship because of their diagnosis and problems with body image and mental health, as well as a worse quality of life. 'Ongoing research efforts investigating the biology of early-onset GI cancers are critical to developing more effective screening, prevention, and treatment strategies,' Char, the paper's lead author, said. The paper was published by Oxford University Press in the journal BJS.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Colon cancer is spiking in young adults. Scientists are blaming the American diet
Rates of colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers are rising in Americans under the age of 50, researchers said Tuesday. They may know why. An increased risk of early-onset gastrointestinal cancers is associated with obesity, which is also rising in the U.S. That's what scientists say is a 'leading theory' for the surge - noting a 2019 study that found women who were considered obese had nearly double the risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer. Close to half of all U.S. adults are predicted to be obese by 2030, according to research released the same year. The chronic condition can cause inflammation and higher levels of insulin that increases peoples' risk of getting cancer, including several types of gastrointestinal cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other risk factors include smoking, drinking alcohol, eating a Western-style diet and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Earlier this year, new research pointed to the impact of a toxin in the gut, known as colibactin, that can inflict DNA damage on colon cells that leads to the development of cancer. Colibactin is produced by the bacteria E. coli, which is often responsible for foodborne illness. As of now, the specific cause remains unclear but the U.S. is not alone, researchers said. 'The incidence of GI cancers in adults younger than age 50 is rising globally,' explained Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute oncology fellow Dr. Sara Char. In the U.S., scientists found that early-onset cases have shown a 'marked increase' in both American men and women since the mid-1990s. In comparison to American adults born in 1950, those born in 1990 have twice the risk of developing colon cancer and four times the risk of developing rectal cancer, the researchers found. Furthermore, early-onset colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in U.S. for men under 50. For women in the same age group, it's the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Colorectal cancer, the most common type of gastrointestinal cancer, also affects Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Asian people disproportionately. These and other related findings signal a worrying shift — and potentially a need for updated treatment practices, the researchers noted. Patients with early-onset colorectal cancers often experience delays in diagnosis because neither doctors, nor their patients, suspect cancer and doctors are more likely to diagnose patients when they are at advanced stages of the disease. Younger patients are more likely to receive aggressive treatment, 'often without a survival advantage,' they said. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men and the fourth-leading cause in women. Overall, it's the second most common cause of U.S. cancer deaths, and the American Cancer Society says it's expected to cause about 52,900 deaths this year. The researchers pointed out that younger patients are more likely to experience financial hardship because of their diagnosis and problems with body image and mental health, as well as a worse quality of life. 'Ongoing research efforts investigating the biology of early-onset GI cancers are critical to developing more effective screening, prevention, and treatment strategies,' Char, the paper's lead author, said. The paper was published by Oxford University Press in the journal BJS.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Measles outbreak leaves several children ‘seriously unwell' as alert issued by NHS
A measles outbreak on Merseyside has left several children 'seriously unwell', a top NHS hospital has warned as it urged people to get vaccinated to help combat the spread of the disease. The rise in cases, according to an alert on Alder Hey Children's Hospital websites, is also driving an increase in patients attending its A&E. In an open letter, published on Monday, the trust's senior directors warned: 'Measles is putting children and young people at risk within our communities and our hospital. Several children are seriously unwell and receiving treatment at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. 'Measles is on the rise amongst our children. We can all help stop it. Get vaccinated now.' It warned that the reason there are more cases of the virus is because fewer people are having the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The trust said the number of children being treated at Alder Hey hospital over measles is increasing and warned 'children in hospital who are very poorly for another reason, are at higher risk of catching the virus.' In a separate, now-deleted post on its website, Alder Hey said it was experiencing high levels of A&E attendances and that it was 'seeing an increase in children presenting with symptoms of measles.' Measles is highly contagious and, in rare cases, can be fatal. Symptoms usually begin with a runny nose, sneezing, coughing and a high temperature. A measles rash follows a few days after, starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. The virus can also cause red, sore eyes. From 26 May to 29 June, there were 133 cases of measles reported to the UK Health Security Agency. Last month UK Health Security Agency published a warning over continued outbreaks and the risk of infection on holiday after data showed 420 measles cases were reported in England between January and May 2025. The majority of those cases, 66 per cent, were in children aged 10 years and under. London had the highest number of cases overall in 2025, with 162. In the four weeks to 5 June, 19 cases, 25 per cent, were reported in the North West and 11 per cent in the West Midlands. #Measles is highly infectious. One person with measles can infect up to 15 others! The best way to protect against measles and stay safe is to have 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. Here's Consultant in Paediatric Public Health at Alder Hey, Rachel Isba, to tell you more: — 🏥 Alder Hey 💙 (@AlderHey) July 6, 2025 Liverpool City Council published a plea on 4 July to parents to get children vaccinated amid a rise in cases across Merseyside. In the warning, Dr Merav Kliner, deputy director for UK Health Security Agency in the North West said: 'With declines in childhood vaccine uptake, including MMR, observed in many countries around the world over the last decade, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now seeing the impact of this with large measles outbreaks globally including recently in Europe and England last year.' 'Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among those who are unvaccinated and is often the canary in the coalmine for vaccine preventable diseases. 'We are concerned that this could be an early warning sign of other possible disease outbreaks both globally and here at home, especially over the summer months as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where diseases are endemic or outbreaks are occurring.'
