- Unlike Crohn's disease--which can occur in patches anywhere in the digestive tract and spread deeper into layers of affected tissue--colitis only happens because of the repeated stretching of the colon.
- Ulcerative colitis is often classified according to the location of damage. There are four classifications for the disease. Fulminant colitis is rare and life threatening, and it affects the entire colon. Pancolitis also affects the entire colon, but it is not as severe. Left-side colitis affects the rectum, moving leftward to the sigmoid and descending colon. Ulcerative proctitis only affects the rectum.
- The symptoms of colitis vary. These symptoms depend on the location of the affected area. Symptoms include rectal bleeding and pain, bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, the inability to have a bowel movements, weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue. Fulminant colitis can cause extreme diarrhea, shock, dehydration, and colon rupture.
- Colitis sufferers usually see periods of acute illness intermittent with times of remission. The severity of the condition usually stays the same, with only rare cases progressing from a mild form of the disease to a more severe form.
- A definite cause for colitis is not known. Since a hereditary link has been found, there is ongoing research into which gene mutations are responsible. Other suggested causes are viruses and bacteria getting into the digestive tract, causing inflammation when the immune system tries to ward off the infections. An autoimmune reaction, where the body reacts to dangers not actually present, is another theory for colitis.
