When you put it all together,pancolitisis chronic inflammation that impacts your entire colon, or large intestine.
One of the main causes of pancolitis is ulcerative colitis (U.C.).
Sometimes youll see this term used to describe advanced U.C.
Pancolitis is when there is inflammation in the entire colon, sometimes due to ulcerative colitis.
that affectsyou guessed itthe entire colon, but U.C.
isnt the only condition that can lead to pancolitis.
If the inflammation isnt managed, it can even increase your chances of developing complications.
We spoke with two gastroenterologists to get answers about pancolitis diagnosis, symptoms, treatment options, and more.
(Youre probably pretty familiar with these).
The colon is where people with ulcerative colitis can run into some digestive trouble.
The colons lining is called its epithelium, and it regenerates and repairs itself constantly.
Ulcerative colitis is a general diagnostic term for chronic, inflammatory bowel disease affecting your colon.
Thats a fancy way to say inflammation that occurs outside the colon.
These tests can rule out or confirm whether there is inflammation or other issues present.
What can you expect from pancolitis treatments?
How pancolitis is treated depends on the cause, so lets dive into the more straightforward ones first.
Corticosteroids are often first prescribed to bring down inflammation in your digestive tract.
We have to keep a good handle on the disease and keep track of how youre doing.
Can lifestyle changes help treat pancolitis?
Theres a lot of talk in alternative health spaces aboutcontrolling ulcerative colitis with dietand improved gut health.
But Dr. Schwimmer cautions against lifestyle changes as a sole treatment.
Dr. Bechtold had a similar opinion.
I dont know if there is any one thing that can prevent ulcerative colitis, ischemia, or infection.
What causes pancolitis flare-ups?
Your pancolitis flare-ups might be triggered by different things, including stress and infections.
A few common triggers for people with U.C.
include dairy products, foods with gluten like bread, and alcoholic beveragesbut everyone is different.
Are there pancolitis complications to be aware of?
When toxic megacolon is discovered, he says, it means the person needs surgery immediately.
A more long-term consequence of pancolitis is an increased risk ofcolon cancer.
Since pancolitis affects the whole colon, it means more opportunity for inflammation.
Thats why its extremely important for people with IBD to bescreened for colon canceraccording to their doctors recommendation.
Does pancolitis affect children?
Children can develop ulcerative colitis, including pancolitis.
The hope is always that the medications will keep inflammation down and the risk of cancer down as well.
