Showing posts with label Pancolitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pancolitis. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Pancolitis

Pancolitis






Pancolitis is a type of ulcer affecting the large intestine. The disease spreads throughout the large intestine from Cecum to rectum and is of very severe type. Individuals affected with pancolitis have greater chance for developing Colon Cancer in future. It is chronic in nature involving ten years or even more.


Pancolitis can also be called as chronic inflammatory disorder of colon which inflames the entire lining of the colon. It begins as ulcerative colitis and can spread to the entire large intestine if left untreated for long. Exact cause of pancolitis is not known but it is believed to be a type of autoimmune disorder. It can also affect people who have genetic predisposition for the disease. There will be intense abdominal pain, Diarrhea and extreme tiredness. This inflammatory disorder can be corrected by taking anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers but for long term (chronic) problem, surgery is the best choice.










Symptoms :


Blood discharge in stool, severe pain in the abdomen, rectal bleeding (often), cramps in the abdomen, and urgency and Tenesmus are some of the common signs of pancolitis. In severe case, there will be sudden Weight Loss. In addition the disorder will also manifest in the form of several type of ulcerslike Erythema Nodosum, sacrolitis, Pyoderma Gangrenosum and aphthous ulcers.


Causes :


Pancolitis or inflammatory disorder of the entire colon can be caused by several factors.


Intestine Conditions :


Any disease or disorder affecting the normal function of small intestine and large intestine can cause pancolitis. Intestine can be affected through infection and inflammation caused by variety of factors like viral or bacterial infection, birth defects and congenital disorders. Intestinal obstruction, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, appendicitis and toxic ingestion are some of the major causes affecting the intestine.


Abdominal Conditions :


Any medical conditions that causes problem in the abdomen can lead to ulcerative colitis or pancolitis affecting the entire colon.


Digestive Problems :


Medical conditions and disorders affecting the digestive tract like duodenal ulcer, fecal incontinence, dysentery, esophageal achalasia and Whipple disease can lead to pancolitis in the colon. Digestive tract begins from the stomach and passes till the mouth of the rectum which comprises esophagus, stomach and intestine. It also has link with vital organs like liver and Pancreas. Hence any abnormality in the liver or pancreas or the digestive tract can affect the functioning of intestine.


When the soft mucous membrane or lining of the stomach is affected and left untreated for long it can cause ulcers.


Non pathogenic inflammatory conditions :


Smoking, working in unsafe environment, immune related disorder, and genetic predisposition falls under this category.


Tests :


When you have the above symptoms like abdominal pain, and bloody discharge in the stool you can consult your doctor. Since many medical conditions can cause similar symptoms it is necessary for your doctor to make right diagnosis of the disease before giving treatment.


Home Colorectal Cancer test and home fecal bleeding tests can be conducted for diagnosing pancolitis. He would order for blood culture for testing the number of white blood cells. Any increase in WBC can be sign of inflammation of colon. He would also order for stool sample for testing the presence of any infectious organisms. Endoscopy methods like Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are useful for diagnosing colitis and pancolitis. Long tubing is inserted through the rectum for examining the lining of the colon. Both the above procedure can be conducted without sedation at doctor’s office. Barium enema X-ray is also taken for the patient for examining the small intestine and analyzing any inflammation is there or not.


Treatment :


Treatment for pancolitis is complex and varies widely from one person to another. Your doctor will devise the plan for treatment after taking into considerations the type of inflammation, intensity of disease and severity of symptoms etc. He would also check whether specific area of the colon is affected or the entire colon is affected. Combination of medications and dietary changes are vital for treating pancolitis. Medications are given either orally or through rectum if the inflammation is very severe.


Dietary Changes :


Eat balanced healthy diet that includes calories, essential nutrients and proteins from wide range of food sources. Protein is rich in meat, fish, soy foods and dairy products. Take plenty of fruits and vegetables. Based on the anemic condition your doctor may prescribe iron supplement pill.


Avoid eating foods that induces gas which will worsen the symptoms. Eat frequent (small amounts) of food instead of taking hefty meals. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid taking spicy and hot foods and include soft and bland foods. Reduce the intake of high fiber foods like beans, bran, nuts and seeds. Avoid taking fried items and fatty foods.


Medical Treatment :


Corticosteroids, TNF inhibitors and immune suppressant drugs are given either alone or in combined form. Aminosalicylates like sulfasalazine are widely used for preventing relapses. This medicine is given through rectum for treating mild to moderate pancolitis. For some patients oral pills are enough to manage ulcer. Corticosteroids are effective in controlling inflammation but it cannot be used for long owing to its side effects. For severe cases, steroid injection is given through veins.


In case if the pancolitis inflammation does not respond to the above drugs, immunosuppressant drugs like Azathioprine, cyclosporine A and Methotrexate are prescribed. Biologic drugs are effective for treating this chronic disorder since it interferes with cytokines that causes inflammation. Infliximab is an effective biologic medicine used for treating pancolitis. For managing diarrhea loperamide is given. The condition of the patient is monitored to check whether the symptoms has improved or not.


Surgery :


For about 25-35% of patients drugs are not effective for treating pancolitis. In case of severe damage and inflammation to the colon, surgical intervention is necessary. Depending on the intensity of the disorder, restorative proctolectomy or total proctolectomy (removal of entire colon) is done. Both forms offer definite cure for the disease.


In ileostomy, the surgeon will make a small perforation (stoma) in the wall of the abdomen for allowing the waste materials. He would then connect the opening to the end of small intestine. Maintaining flatulence will be a big task after surgery. Patients should follow the instructions of the doctor for choosing right set of foods and avoid high fiber foods that could cause gas.











Monday, May 09, 2016

Pancolitis – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Pancolitis – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

What is Pancolitis?


This is another name for ulcerative colitis that is an inflammatory disease of the bowel or IBD and causes inflammation that is long lasting in areas of the digestive tract.










Similar to Crohn’s disease, additional common IBD, this condition is incapacitating and occasionally may lead to complications that are life-threatening. Since this is a chronic disorder, indicators normally progress over time, instead of suddenly.


Normally this condition affects the lining of the colon that is innermost. It occurs due to continuous stretches of the colon.


Pancolitis Symptoms


The symptoms of this condition include:



  • Begins in the left colon

  • Often affects the total colon

  • Severe bloody Diarrhea

  • Abdominal pains and cramps

  • Significant loss of weight

  • Fatigue


Pancolitis Causes


No one is certain what causes any of the ulcerative colitis diseases, but there is agreement as to what doesn’t cause them. Medical personnel do not believe that this is caused by stress, but stress may often aggravate any symptoms. Rather, the current thinking concentrates on the following:


Immune system
Many scientists believe that a bacterium or virus may initiate these diseases. The digestive system gets inflamed when the immune system attempts to fight off invading pathogen. It is also likely that the inflammation can be triggered from an autoimmune response where the body causes an immune reply even when there is no pathogen present.


Genetics
Since an individual is most likely to cultivate bowel diseases if there is a sibling or parent with these problems, researchers believe that genetic makeup can play a subsidizing role. But, the majority of individuals who have these types of colon problems do not have a family history.


Pancolitis Treatment


The objective of medical management is first to decrease the irritation that usually triggers the symptoms and signs. In the better circumstances, this will not only lead to relief of symptoms but also to long-standing reduction of the condition. Treatment normally includes either surgery or drug therapy.


Physicians use certain categories of medications to manage inflammation in a variety of methods. But, drugs that work fine for some may not work well for others, so it might take time to find the drugs that work well for an individual.


Anti-inflammatory drugs are usually the 1st step in treatment. They include:
Balsalazide (Colazal), alsalazide (Colazal), Mesalamine (Asacol, Lialda), and olsalazine (Dipentum). These drugs are obtainable in oral forms as well as topical such as suppositories and enemas. These drugs have a tendency to have less side effects than the sulfa medications and are usually tolerated well. The physician might prescribe an arrangement of two forms, such as oral and suppository. Mesalamine may relieve symptoms and signs in more than 90% of individuals.


You're reading Pancolitis – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.








Sulfasalazine or Azulfidine


These may be effective in decreasing symptoms of bowel disease but have numerous side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, Heartburn, diarrhea and Headache. This medication should not be taken when there is an Allergy to sulfa drugs.


Corticosteroids


These can help in reducing inflammation but they also have frequent side effects including weight gain, mood swings, excessive hair on the face, bone fractures, Glaucoma, cataracts and an increased vulnerability to infections.


Immune system suppressors


These medications decrease inflammation but they aim at the immune system instead of handling inflammation itself. Since immune suppressors may be operational in treating bowel inflammation scientists hypothesize that damage to the digestive soft tissue is produced by the body’s immune response to an occupying virus or bacterium or even to your own tissue.


Additionally to controlling inflammation, some medications can help to relieve symptoms and signs. Depending on the severity of the bowel problem, the physician might recommend one or even more of the following:



  • Antibiotics

  • Anti-diarrheals

  • Pain relievers

  • Iron supplements


Surgery


If lifestyle changes, diet and drug therapy do not relieve the symptoms and signs, your physician may mention surgery.


Surgery may often eliminate problems with the bowel. But that typically means eliminating the total rectum and colon. Formerly, subsequent to this surgery the patient would wear a small bag over an abdominal opening. But the fairly new technique called “ileoanal anastomosis” removes the necessity for wearing a bag. Rather, the surgeon builds a pouch from the ending of the small intestine. This pouch is then directly attached to the anus. This permits the individual to dismiss waste more customarily, while you might have more numerous movements that are watery or soft since there is no longer a colon to captivate water.