Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
There are many different causes ofcolitis, which can include both disease and infection, and each has its own symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms that occur with colitis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, andblood in the stool.
This article will discuss frequent symptoms, rare symptoms, complications, and when to see the doctor for colitis.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
Colitis has several different causes, and the signs and symptoms for each will be different. However, some symptoms may occur more commonly. These can include:
Other signs and symptoms that may be more common in certain types of colitis than in others include:
Some signs and symptoms are more specific to particular conditions that cause colitis, while others—such as diarrhea, and abdominal pain or cramping—tend to be common among most related conditions.
These symptoms are rare in conditions that cause colitis:
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
A serious but rare complication of these forms of inflammatory bowel disease is fulminant or toxic colitis, formerly called toxic megacolon.
The signs and symptoms of this condition can include bloody diarrhea along with fever, racing heartbeat (tachycardia), low blood pressure (hypotension), metabolic acidosis (a buildup of acid in the body), low urine output (oliguria), andacute kidney (renal) failure.
Toxic colitis is more common with ulcerative colitis than it is with Crohn’s disease.
C. Difficile Colitis
One of the most concerning complications ofC. difficilecolitisis when the infection doesn’t clear, even after treatment. This is called recurrentC. difficileinfection.
This infection can lead to further problems, including:
Microscopic Colitis
Complications with microscopic colitis that come from the disease aren’t common. However, if steroids are used for long-term treatment, these drugs are associated with various types of complications.
Ischemic Colitis
If ischemic colitis has advanced, there could be signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). SIRS may mean that a patient has tachycardia and a higher-than-normal white blood cell count (leukocytosis).
Bleeding from the rectum or blood in or on the stool is never normal. It should always be brought up to a healthcare provider. However, it’s not always an urgent situation.
If the cause of the bleeding is from a chronic condition (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), it should be discussed with yourgastroenterologist.
In the case of new bleeding, seek medical care as soon as possible. Rectal bleeding that won’t stop is a reason to go to the emergency department. Additionally, if you feel faint from blood loss, get to the emergency department right away or call an ambulance.
Abdominal pain can come and go with ongoing conditions, like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. It’s important to discuss pain at your checkups. However, if abdominal pain comes on suddenly and is severe, you should go to the emergency room or see a provider right away.
Red Flag SymptomsSeek medical attention immediately for the following symptoms:Blood in or on the stoolDizzinessFaintingSevere abdominal painSigns of dehydrationVomiting that won’t stop
Red Flag Symptoms
Seek medical attention immediately for the following symptoms:Blood in or on the stoolDizzinessFaintingSevere abdominal painSigns of dehydrationVomiting that won’t stop
Seek medical attention immediately for the following symptoms:
Summary
A Word From Verywell
When colitis is mentioned, many people may think of ulcerative colitis. However, the condition can be due to causes that range from common or not serious to those that are life-threatening.
Most of the time, the symptoms of colitis won’t seem like an emergency, but with bad stomach pain—especially when it’s coupled with other symptoms that are worrying, like feeling faint—the best idea is to see a doctor right away.
A healthcare provider will likely look at the rectum or do a rectal exam, and may even move on to scheduling other tests to look inside the colon. These tests can seem embarrassing, and there can be a temptation to put them off. However, it’s important not to ignore symptoms, especially bleeding.
Treatments are available for the different forms of colitis. They can help get the symptoms under control and get you back to a better quality of life.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hedrick TL, Friel CM.Colonic Crohn disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2013;26(2):84-89. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1348046Ungaro R, Mehandru S, Allen PB, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Colombel JF.Ulcerative colitis.Lancet. 2017;389(10080):1756-1770. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32126-2Depestel DD, Aronoff DM.Epidemiology ofClostridium difficileinfection.J Pharm Pract.2013;26(5):464–475. doi:10.1177/0897190013499521Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Gastroenterol. 2019;10(4):388-393. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040Washington C, Carmichael JC.Management of ischemic colitis.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012;25(4):228-235. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329534Molnár K, Pintér P, Győrffy H, et al.Characteristics of allergic colitis in breast-fed infants in the absence of cow’s milk allergy.World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(24):3824-3830. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i24.3824Czepiel J, Dróżdż M, Pituch H, et al.Clostridium difficileinfection: review.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019;38(7):1211-1221. doi:10.1007/s10096-019-03539-6Tsigrelis C.RecurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: recognition, management, prevention.Cleve Clin J Med. 2020;87(6):347-359. doi:10.3949/ccjm.87gr.20001Feuerstadt P, Boules M, Stong L, et al.Clinical complications in patients with primary and recurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: a real-world data analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2021 Jan 14;9. doi:10.1177/2050312120986733
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hedrick TL, Friel CM.Colonic Crohn disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2013;26(2):84-89. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1348046Ungaro R, Mehandru S, Allen PB, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Colombel JF.Ulcerative colitis.Lancet. 2017;389(10080):1756-1770. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32126-2Depestel DD, Aronoff DM.Epidemiology ofClostridium difficileinfection.J Pharm Pract.2013;26(5):464–475. doi:10.1177/0897190013499521Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Gastroenterol. 2019;10(4):388-393. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040Washington C, Carmichael JC.Management of ischemic colitis.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012;25(4):228-235. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329534Molnár K, Pintér P, Győrffy H, et al.Characteristics of allergic colitis in breast-fed infants in the absence of cow’s milk allergy.World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(24):3824-3830. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i24.3824Czepiel J, Dróżdż M, Pituch H, et al.Clostridium difficileinfection: review.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019;38(7):1211-1221. doi:10.1007/s10096-019-03539-6Tsigrelis C.RecurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: recognition, management, prevention.Cleve Clin J Med. 2020;87(6):347-359. doi:10.3949/ccjm.87gr.20001Feuerstadt P, Boules M, Stong L, et al.Clinical complications in patients with primary and recurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: a real-world data analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2021 Jan 14;9. doi:10.1177/2050312120986733
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hedrick TL, Friel CM.Colonic Crohn disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2013;26(2):84-89. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1348046Ungaro R, Mehandru S, Allen PB, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Colombel JF.Ulcerative colitis.Lancet. 2017;389(10080):1756-1770. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32126-2Depestel DD, Aronoff DM.Epidemiology ofClostridium difficileinfection.J Pharm Pract.2013;26(5):464–475. doi:10.1177/0897190013499521Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Gastroenterol. 2019;10(4):388-393. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040Washington C, Carmichael JC.Management of ischemic colitis.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012;25(4):228-235. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329534Molnár K, Pintér P, Győrffy H, et al.Characteristics of allergic colitis in breast-fed infants in the absence of cow’s milk allergy.World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(24):3824-3830. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i24.3824Czepiel J, Dróżdż M, Pituch H, et al.Clostridium difficileinfection: review.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019;38(7):1211-1221. doi:10.1007/s10096-019-03539-6Tsigrelis C.RecurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: recognition, management, prevention.Cleve Clin J Med. 2020;87(6):347-359. doi:10.3949/ccjm.87gr.20001Feuerstadt P, Boules M, Stong L, et al.Clinical complications in patients with primary and recurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: a real-world data analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2021 Jan 14;9. doi:10.1177/2050312120986733
Hedrick TL, Friel CM.Colonic Crohn disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2013;26(2):84-89. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1348046
Ungaro R, Mehandru S, Allen PB, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Colombel JF.Ulcerative colitis.Lancet. 2017;389(10080):1756-1770. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32126-2
Depestel DD, Aronoff DM.Epidemiology ofClostridium difficileinfection.J Pharm Pract.2013;26(5):464–475. doi:10.1177/0897190013499521
Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Gastroenterol. 2019;10(4):388-393. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040
Washington C, Carmichael JC.Management of ischemic colitis.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012;25(4):228-235. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329534
Molnár K, Pintér P, Győrffy H, et al.Characteristics of allergic colitis in breast-fed infants in the absence of cow’s milk allergy.World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(24):3824-3830. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i24.3824
Czepiel J, Dróżdż M, Pituch H, et al.Clostridium difficileinfection: review.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019;38(7):1211-1221. doi:10.1007/s10096-019-03539-6
Tsigrelis C.RecurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: recognition, management, prevention.Cleve Clin J Med. 2020;87(6):347-359. doi:10.3949/ccjm.87gr.20001
Feuerstadt P, Boules M, Stong L, et al.Clinical complications in patients with primary and recurrentClostridioides difficileinfection: a real-world data analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2021 Jan 14;9. doi:10.1177/2050312120986733
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