Acute colitis and its symptoms

Acute colitis can be catarrhal (redness and swelling of the bowel wall), erosive (surface damage of the intestinal wall) and peptic ulcer (ulcers in the intestinal wall). For acute colitis is characterized by acute onset. When the infectious nature of the disease there is an increase in body temperature, frequent stools. The stools are not abundant, fluid or mushy, sometimes lose fecal character, contain an admixture of mucus, blood and pus. There have cramping abdominal pain, distended abdomen, there may be violations of the cardiovascular system (heart rate, irregular heart, shortness of breath).

How is chronic colitis

In chronic colitis in the colon mucosa exhibit redness, change in the vascular pattern, sometimes superficial mucosal damage, haemorrhage. In a number of cases detected by the pallor of the mucous membrane and its atrophy (malnutrition) changes.

The main symptom of chronic colitis - a disorder of stool (diarrhea). During exacerbation of the disease may be more frequent stools 10-15 times a day. Feces liquid or mushy, its number is small, it contains a lot of mucus. Urging to stool often demanding (mandatory) character. There may be constipation, sometimes diarrhea and constipation are replaced and vice versa.

Constant feature of chronic colitis are abdominal pain and Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms , Mainly in the lower parts of it, at least around the abdomen. Such pains are usually aching, monotone, at least - paroxysmal, sometimes - in the form of a feeling of fullness, growing in the evening. The pain may increase after eating, especially after eating some vegetables and milk.

Worried and flatulence (bloating), excessive discharge of gas, rumbling stomach. These patients often appear neurosis (disorder of the nervous system without any visible changes) and depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood   (constantly bad mood).

Diagnosis of colitis

Diagnosis is based on thorough consultation and examination of the patient confirmed the diagnosis of acute colitis is a bacteriological (crop on nutrient media) stool of the patient.

To confirm the diagnosis of chronic colitis in addition to fecal examination methods are used instrumental - radiographic and endoscopic studies. With the help of X-ray techniques to detect and determine the extent of injury, the nature of the changes (erosion, ulcers etc.), Their severity, concomitant signs of dyskinesia (violation of motor activity of the colon).

An important role in the diagnosis of chronic colitis play endoscopic methods of investigation (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy - a tube with an optical device introduced into the intestine to study the state of its walls). The results of these studies can be seen the intensification of the process.

Colitis Treatment

Treatment of acute colitis is the appointment of a sparing diet (grind food with the exception of fatty, fried and spicy food) with gradual expansion. To combat dehydration appointed by drinking plenty of fluids (brines), for better digestion - enzyme preparations (eg mezim), enveloping, protecting the mucous membrane and adsorbent products (almagel). When the infectious nature of the disease prescribe antibiotics (only after laboratory research).

Chronic colitis is more difficult to treat. When exacerbation treatment is carried out in the same manner as in acute colitis. In the complex treatment of an important place occupied by restorative, soothing agents (motherwort, valerian), psychotherapy, physiotherapy (electrophoresis with novocaine, mud Mud - a pleasant and useful procedure   et al.), spa treatment.

Colitis, especially chronic need to be treated because long process with persistent constipation is a risk factor for colon cancer Colon cancer: creeps imperceptibly .

  Galina Romanenko

Causes of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is poorly understood and much respect to this disease remains unknown. For example, still do not understand, it becomes a trigger of the inflammatory process in the pancreas and why some people develop the disease in a mild form, while others - in the heavy.

• Trypsin

According to one theory, acute pancreatitis develops when something goes wrong with a substance called trypsin. Trypsin - an enzyme secreted by the pancreas and is used to cleave the proteins contained in foods - in other words, it aids in digestion.

After thyroid The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   generates trypsin, it is inactive and has no "digestive" properties. Trypsin is activated and acquires the ability to cleave proteins only after it falls from the pancreas into the gut. Contributors to one theory of acute pancreatitis suggest that in some cases trypsin for some reason becomes active when it is still in the pancreas, and it begins to break down the cells. In other words, it starts digesting the pancreas itself, which leads to irritation and inflammation.

• Alcohol consumption

It is not entirely clear how alcohol causes inflammation of the pancreas. According to one theory, the ethanol molecules disrupt the normal operation of cells of the pancreas, causing premature activation of the trypsin.

No matter what the cause, there is a clear link between alcohol consumption and acute pancreatitis, and the more a person drinks, the higher the risk of developing this disorder. People who consume 35 units of alcohol a week, the risk of acute pancreatitis is four times higher than those who did not drink alcohol (35 units - about 16 cans of lager or four standard bottles of wine).

Consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time further increases the risk of acute pancreatitis.

• Gallstones

Gallstones - a solid education, similar to a stone that form if human bile contains too much cholesterol. Sometimes the stones out of the gallbladder and block the ducts of the pancreas. It is believed that this leads to disruption of chemical reactions occurring within the pancreas, because of which the trypsin is active before the time, and as a result of the inflammatory process begins.

• Other reasons

Other less common causes of acute pancreatitis can be:

• Accidental damage to the pancreas, which may occur during the operation, known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). They are used to remove gallstones or examination of the pancreas and surrounding tissues;
• Side effects of certain drugs, such as antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future?   and chemotherapy drugs. They are found in a very small number of people;
• Viral infections such as mumps and measles Measles in children - may cause serious complications .

Risk factors for severe acute pancreatitis

As mentioned above, it is not known why different people have developed various forms of acute pancreatitis. Several studies, during which experts studied the medical history of the patient to identify the factors that increase the likelihood that a person will develop a severe form of acute pancreatitis. Based on these results we can with certainty say that the following factors increase the risk of developing this disease:

• Patient age older than 70 years;
• Obesity - a body mass index of 30 or more;
• The use of two or more units of alcohol per day;
• Smoking.

The researchers also found that people with a specific genetic mutation, known as a mutation of MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1), the probability of severe acute pancreatitis is eight times higher than normal.

Diagnostics

In most cases, acute pancreatitis is diagnosed in hospitals, or when a person comes to himself, or bring him to the ambulance. In clinics, family doctors such diagnosis is made very rarely.

The doctor who takes the patient will ask about his symptoms based on which it is already possible to suspect acute pancreatitis. Also carried out a medical examination: if a person has acute pancreatitis, certain parts of his stomach will be particularly sensitive to touch.

Blood test

The next stage of the diagnosis - is a blood test. In acute pancreatitis pancreas begins producing amylase and lipase in larger amounts than usual. Blood tests show elevated levels of these substances.

Further diagnostics

Further diagnosis is needed to assess how extensive is the inflammation of the pancreas, and to assess the risk of developing serious complications.

It may involve the following diagnostic procedures:

• Computed tomography - a procedure in which using special equipment obtained detailed, three-dimensional image of the pancreas Diabetes and pancreas - the things you need to know ;
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). To perform this operation, use a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end - an endoscope. Its with ultrasonic image is introduced into the digestive tract and the internal organs imaged. ERHRG useful in acute pancreatitis caused by gallstones - with this procedure, you can pinpoint their location and, in some cases, remove the stones.

Mild or severe form of acute pancreatitis?

In the early stages of acute pancreatitis determine its shape can be difficult, as the knowledge of symptoms alone is not enough. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, to do blood tests and conduct computerized tomography, or in some cases, X-ray examination.

The heart rate and breathing can also help make a diagnosis. Thus, if the heart rate is greater than 90, and makes the patient more than 20 breaths per minute, it is likely that a serious form of acute pancreatitis.

Typically, all of the tests needed to diagnose, make approximately 24 hours.