Spastic colitis

Spastic colitis is a disorder of the intestines, which manifests itself in abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea (alternately), this disease is one of the forms of inflammation of the colon. Painful spasms - one of the signs of colitis - are caused by a disorder of the intestines, spasms can occur in different parts of the intestine, which changes the localization of pain.

This form of inflammation is considered a functional disorder.

The disease occurs on nervous grounds – due to prolonged experiences, stress, conflicts, physical and nervous exhaustion, hormonal imbalances.

Men suffer from spastic colitis less often, most likely due to the fact that the female body is more prone to hormonal imbalances during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or childbirth.

ICD-10 code

The ICD-10 code for spastic colitis is K-52 (non-infectious gastroenteritis and colitis).

Causes of spastic colitis

The main cause of the disease is considered to be poor nutrition – frequent consumption of spicy, heavy foods and alcohol.

Often, chronic constipation, frequent conflicts, various fears, emotional shock, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, intestinal infections (especially in protracted forms) lead to the development of colitis. An allergic reaction to food can also provoke intestinal inflammation.

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Symptoms of spastic colitis

Disturbance of intestinal motility is accompanied by painful spasms, bloating, gas formation. Pain often occurs at night, in the morning or after eating.

Spastic colitis also manifests itself as alternating loose stools and constipation.

Chronic spastic colitis develops due to a lack of fiber in the diet; the disorder can also be provoked by frequent suppression of the urge to defecate.

With this form of the disease, the patient suffers from insomnia, headaches, fatigue. The process of emptying the intestines can occur in 2-3 stages, as predominantly dry and dense. Treatment in this case is long and requires compliance with certain rules.

Constipation is one of the manifestations of spastic colitis.

In case of illness, nutrition plays an important role, with the help of which the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms can be reduced.

In case of systematic constipation, it is recommended to eat more fruits and vegetables, which contain fiber, bran. You should also drink enough water - at least 2 liters per day.

Some foods can cause constipation, so it is important to monitor your body's reaction to food (if after eating certain foods you start having problems with bowel movements, you feel discomfort, etc., it is better to stop eating such foods).

The main symptoms of spastic constipation are sharp abdominal cramps, bloating, rumbling and increased gas formation. In this case, defecation occurs once every few days.

Spastic colitis in children

Spastic colitis in children often occurs as a complication of infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal, rotavirus infection, etc.). The disease causes high temperature, diarrhea (at first there may be constipation), pain, mucus or blood impurities in the feces (depending on the infection), weakness.

Visible signs of colitis in children appear after a few days (on average after 3 days), and colitis often occurs in combination with gastritis or enteritis. In advanced cases, the child may develop severe dehydration.

Treatment requires taking enterosorbents, antibiotics, and medications to restore water and electrolyte balance. Self-medication is unacceptable in this case.

Chronic spastic colitis in children is characterized by dull abdominal pain, bowel disturbances, bloating, fatigue, insomnia, low hemoglobin, and weight loss. The disease progresses in waves, with acute attacks followed by long periods of remission.

Prolonged colitis can cause intestinal obstruction, anemia, intestinal adhesions, and inflammation of the peritoneum.

Frequent diarrhea and constipation can cause anal fissures, intestinal prolapse, and changes in the mucous membrane.

During treatment, special attention should be paid to the child's nutrition - food should be gentle on the intestines, heat-treated. Spicy, sour, salty, fried foods should be completely excluded from the child's menu.

The child should be in a calm environment, not subjected to nervous and physical stress. It is recommended to drink mineral water to normalize digestion, and resort treatment during periods of remission.

Diagnosis of spastic colitis

Spastic colitis is characterized by various symptoms. The characteristic signs of this disease are abdominal cramps (or aching pain), most often pain occurs in the left iliac region, as well as bowel disorders (loose stools and constipation).

During the examination, a specialist can determine intestinal pathology (expansion or contraction) during palpation.

If spastic colitis is suspected, an endoscopic examination is prescribed - an examination of the rectal mucosa using a rectoscope or a special probe, which reveals inflammatory processes, atrophy, intestinal dystrophy, and mucous plaque (pronounced signs of the disease).

In the acute stage, the mucous membrane is loose, covered with erosion and pinpoint hemorrhages.

With intestinal atrophy, the mucous membrane is pale, covered with a thin network of vessels, dry (since there is no mucus), and intestinal tone is reduced.

To exclude other pathologies, an ultrasound, general blood, urine, and stool analysis, and a laboratory study of feces to identify gastrointestinal pathologies may be prescribed.

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Treatment of spastic colitis

The principle of treating spastic colitis is based on normalizing stool and reducing unpleasant symptoms. During an exacerbation, antiseptic drugs are prescribed, which improve well-being in a short time, however, the recommended course of treatment should not be exceeded, since these drugs can disrupt the intestinal microflora.

To reduce pain, antispasmodics are prescribed (No-shpa, Decitel), in a hospital the doctor prescribes cholinergics or adrenergic blockers, but such drugs have severe side effects, so they should be taken only under the supervision of a specialist.

In colitis, a large amount of mucous secretion forms on the walls; to reduce the irritating effect, drugs with an enveloping effect (calcium carbonate) can be prescribed.

In case of increased gas formation, enterosorbents (enterosgel, activated carbon) are prescribed; to reduce increased acidity - acedin-pepsin; enzyme preparations are also prescribed to improve digestive function.

If the microflora is disturbed, you should take a course of prebiotics or probiotics (only after antiseptic drugs).

To improve overall well-being, multivitamins are prescribed, usually intramuscularly.

For constipation, it is better to use oil-based laxatives or herbs that do not irritate the mucous membrane. Vaseline oil (1 tbsp per day), olive oil (1/4 cup per day), castor oil (1 tbsp per day) show good efficiency.

If frequent nervous tension, stress, etc. are observed, a course of sedatives, calming infusions, and mild sleeping pills is recommended.

Folk remedies for spastic colitis

Treatment with folk remedies mainly involves taking herbal infusions and enemas.

For enemas, it is recommended to prepare an infusion of calendula and chamomile (brew 1 tbsp of the herbal mixture with 200 ml of boiling water, strain after cooling). During the procedure, it is necessary to hold the medicinal infusion inside for several minutes, repeat the procedure 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 1 - 3 weeks, depending on the severity.

For pain and increased gas formation, anise seeds are very helpful; their infusion should replace regular tea (1 teaspoon per 200 ml of water).

For constipation, traditional medicine recommends taking raw onion juice before meals – 1 teaspoon 3 times a day.

For nervous tension, tea with mint or lemon balm (3 times a day) is effective.

For spastic colitis, traditional medicine recommends doing microclysters with honey - dissolving 50-100g of honey in warm boiled water.

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Nutrition for spastic colitis

From the first days of treatment, the patient should follow a special diet.

The diet should be varied and include foods with a lot of fiber (not fresh gray wheat bread, vegetables, cereals).

You need to eat small portions up to 6 times a day.

Adult patients are advised to fast during periods of exacerbation of the disease for the first two days, then start the morning with a glass of water, eat oatmeal at lunch (if loose stools bother you, it is better to cook liquid rice porridge), and have vegetable soup for dinner.

The next day, you can add boiled meat, fish, and eggs to your diet.

You should exclude foods that irritate the intestines (legumes, nuts, mushrooms, poultry or fish skin, meat with tendons).

During acute periods of the disease, it is better to eat fruits and vegetables stewed; as acute symptoms subside, raw foods can be added to the diet; at first, it is better to peel any fruits and vegetables.

Diet for spastic colitis

Diet plays a key role in normalizing the functioning of the digestive system.

If you have loose stools, it is better to include in your diet liquid, well-cooked porridges (rice, corn), jelly, thick soups-puree, stewed mashed vegetables and fruits, baked or boiled meat, fish.

In case of frequent constipation, it is better to eat raw vegetables and fruits, prunes, freshly squeezed juices from vegetables and fruits, baked goods with bran, boiled or baked pumpkin, and beets.

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Prevention of spastic colitis

To prevent spastic colitis, you should eat more foods with fiber, exclude (or reduce) milk, coffee, and sugar substitutes from your menu.

It is important to avoid conflict situations, nervous and physical overload, stressful situations (if necessary, you can take a course of sedatives).

Spastic Colitis Prognosis

With spastic colitis with frequent constipation, bloody diarrhea, intestinal obstruction may occur, and in some cases surgery may be required.

In most cases, the prognosis is favorable; therapy requires a comprehensive approach (medication, diet, and in some cases, a consultation with a neuropsychiatrist may be necessary).

Spastic colitis can occur in acute or chronic form. The disease is caused by a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, the main factors provoking the disease are stress, frequent overload of the body (both physical and nervous), improper nutrition.