What is colitis?

Colitis refers specifically to the inflammation of the colon, which is the part of the large intestine. This condition can arise from various causes including infections, inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, ischemia, or even certain medications. Symptoms of colitis often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and urgency to have bowel movements.

Understanding colitis is essential for recognizing its impact on digestive health and the various treatment approaches that exist to manage the condition. It is also crucial to differentiate colitis from conditions affecting other parts of the digestive tract, such as the stomach or esophagus. For instance, inflammation of the stomach is known as gastritis, and inflammation of the esophagus is referred to as esophagitis. These distinctions help clarify the specific pathologies involved and guide the appropriate clinical responses to each condition.