These patients may respond to psychotherapy. The term colitis generally refers to either ulcerative colitis or crohns disease. Theses ailments generally manifest with pain and or diarrhea. Their exact cause is not known. Unfortunately, these disorders are generally chronic and require medical therapy.
Surgery is sometimes necessary in refractory cases.
Ulcerative colitis and to a lesser extent crohns disease are associated with an increased risk of developing colon cancer. Generally colon cancer, when it occurs, is a later manifestation of chronic disease involving the entire colon and is much more common in ulcerative colitis than crohns colitis. Periodic colonoscopic evaluation in these patients is important in demonstrating precancerous changes. Nevertheless, constipation can be a sign of colon blockage due to cancer and all individuals with constipation, particularly if they are older than 50, require investigation of their colon to exclude serious diseases states such as cancer or diverticulosis. GERD or heartburn is another very common gastrointestinal malady.