Clues to this diagnosis include sudden decrease in diarrhea, swelling of the abdomen, and worsening abdominal pain.
Toxic megacolon has many symptoms associated with it. Some of these symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal distention, abdominal tenderness, and fever.
Toxic megacolon
Another life-threatening condition is toxic megacolon. Severe inflammation causes the colon to dilate or stretch, and the thin colon wall may eventually tear.
Certain medications (particularly those that diminish intestinal contractions) may increase risk of toxic megacolon, but this interaction is unclear.
Toxic megacolon is treated by inducing or correcting, fluids and electrolyte disturbances to prevent the victim from either dehydration or shock. If the condition advances to a preforation in the colon, surgery is required to perform a colectomy.
The colon gradually stretches and its wall thins to the point where it can tear. The presence of a hole in the intestine leads to peritonitis and is fatal unless quickly recognized and treated.
The most common diseases to affect the colon:Angiodysplasia of the colonAppendicitisChronic functional abdominal painColitisColorectal cancerConstipationCrohn's diseaseDiarrheaDiverticulitisNFDiverticulosisHirschsprung's disease (aganglionosis)IleusIntussusceptionIrritable bowel syndromePolypPseudomembranous colitisUlcerative colitis and toxic megacolon
Megacolon.
also known as congenital megacolon or aganglionic megacolon, is an abnormality in which certain nerve fibers are absent in segments of the bowel, resulting in severe bowel obstruction.
Patients with severe active colitis, extremely dilated colon (toxic megacolon), or severely inflamed bowel may not be candidates for colonoscopy. Patients requiring continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
Hirschsprung's disease, is an abnormality in which certain nerve fibers are absent in segments of the bowel, resulting in severe bowel obstruction; also known as congenital megacolon or aganglionic megacolon,
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