colitis

/kɔ'laitis/

Thân thiện

A doctor shows a patient a diagram of the colon to explain colitis.

Definition

Noun A medical condition characterized by inflammation of the colon (the large intestine).

Usage and Examples

• General Medical Use: The term is used to describe a specific type of gastrointestinal disorder.
  • The patient was diagnosed with colitis after experiencing severe abdominal pain and diarrhea.
  • Ulcerative colitis is a chronic form of inflammatory bowel disease.

Advanced Usage

• Specific Types: The word is often modified by an adjective to specify the cause or nature of the inflammation.
  • Pseudomembranous colitis can be a side effect of certain antibiotics.
  • Ischemic colitis occurs when blood flow to the colon is reduced.

Variants and Related Words

• -itis: A common suffix in medical terminology meaning "inflammation of". (e.g., , , ).
• Colonic: (Adjective) Pertaining to the colon.
• Enterocolitis: (Noun) Inflammation involving both the small intestine (entero-) and the colon.

Synonyms

• Colon inflammation: A direct descriptive synonym.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): A broader category that includes conditions like colitis. Note: Not all colitis is classified as IBD (e.g., some infectious types), and IBD includes other conditions like Crohn's disease.

Notes on Meaning

The term "colitis" refers specifically to the inflammation of the colon's lining. It is a symptom or diagnosis, not a description of the colon itself. The inflammation leads to common symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea.

Học thuật

Noun

1. inflammation of the colon

Từ đồng nghĩa

• inflammatory bowel disease