Condition5 connections · 1 source
Colitis
Inflammation of the colon (large intestine) causing mucousy, bloody diarrhea with straining and urgency.
Key Facts
- Features: mucus, fresh blood, straining, cramping, urgency
- Acute causes: stress (boarding, moving), dietary indiscretion
- Chronic causes: parasites (Giardia, whipworms), IBD, IBS
- Weight loss usually NOT a feature of colitis
- Straining can be confused with constipation
- Fiber-responsive disease — both soluble and insoluble fiber helpful
- Colonoscopy with biopsy needed for definitive chronic diagnosis