This is the inflammation of the digestive tract affecting the enteritis of the small intestine and the colitis of the colon. This can develop as the result of various infections caused by bacteria, virus or parasites. This usually presents symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain.
Necrotizing enterocolitis
This is the inflammation of the intestines, particularly the colon that can be life-threatening. This serious condition develops when the tissues of the intestine become injured causing the intestine to become inflamed as the result. This can affect the entire thickness of the intestinal lining that can cause a hole allowing the microbes to enter the abdomen and develop an infection. Necrotizing enterocolitis commonly affects the infants, particularly the premature infants usually within the first few weeks of their life. Some of the common causes include injury to the intestinal lining, insufficient oxygen or the blood flow to the intestine and underdeveloped intestine among the infants. The symptoms can develop in the first few weeks and include swelling of the stomach, an abnormal color of the stomach, not feeding well, apnea (pauses in breathing), lacking energy, vomiting, blood in the stool and fever. The treatment is usually based on the overall health and the extent the disease has progressed. Some of the treatment include antibiotic, breathing support, frequent examinations of the abdomen and fluid replacement. Depending on the severity, a surgery may be required when a hole in the abdomen is evident.
Pseudomembranous colitis
This is the inflammation of the colon that usually develops as the result of bacterial overgrowth which is associated with recent antibiotic use. Usually, the bacterial balance is naturally regulated in the colon but when this balance becomes affected from the excess proliferation of certain bacteria, commonly the C.difficile, it can damage the colon. Additional causes include chemotherapy to treat cancer, certain diseases such as ulcerative colitis or crohn’s disease can also cause this condition. Additional risk factors include colon disease such as colorectal cancer, an increase in age, undergoing intestinal surgery and weakened immune system. The symptoms of this condition can develop within a few days after the antibiotic is started or can take as long as several weeks. The common symptoms include fever, nausea dehydration, diarrhea that contains blood, abdominal pain or the presence of pus in the stool. The diagnosis is usually based on various tests that seek to identify the complications that can develop from this condition. The tests can include stool sample, blood tests, colonoscopy and various imaging tests. The treatment includes stopping the medication that causes the symptoms which usually can resolve the condition. Alternatively, antibiotics may be required to treat the bacteria which can allow other bacteria to regrow.
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