Megacolon simply means you have an abnormally enlarged colon. However, toxic megacolon, aka toxic colitis, means you have a life-threatening health situation that’s frequently a complication of another intestinal problem.
Megacolon coupled with the term “toxic” indicates your enlarged colon is drastically escalated in it’s severity by infection or inflammation causing a need for emergency health care. This health blurb lays-out the causes and symptoms of toxic versus non-toxic megacolons in a effort to help you differentiate between the two possibilities. Yet, if you’re ever in doubt have it checked out ASAP!
Causes of megacolon is not completely understood, but it’s often associated with health conditions impacting intestinal motility in some way, such as:
- lupus
- amyloidosis
- scleroderma
- spinal cord injury
- Parkinson disease
- diabetic neuropathy
- myotonic dystrophy
- chronic constipation
- dermatomyositis, polymyositis
- mixed connective tissue disease
- parasite infection ~ Chagas disease
- congenital condition ~ Hirschsprung’s disease
- abrupt discontinuance of a drug after long term use ~ opiates, laxatives, anticholinergics, antidepressants
- metabolic conditions ~ hypothyroidism, hypokalemia, porphyria, pheochromocytoma, hyperparathyroidism
And having a barium enema or colonoscopy can exacerbate your megacolon situation.
Cause of toxic megacolon typically is associated these other health conditions:
- ischemic colitis
- pseudomembranous colitis
- IBD ~ ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease
- infectious disease ~ amebiasis, typhoid fever, bacterial dysentery
Toxic colitis is most often seen in those with ulcerative colitis. And to prevent toxic megacolon ongoing management of these underlying health conditions is vital, especially ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
Symptoms of megacolon involve:
- bloating
- constipation
- stomach pain & distention
- feel hard mass in lower left abdomen area
Toxic megacolon onset is rapid and may cause these symptoms:
- fever
- shock
- rectal pain
- tachycardia
- hypotension
- bloody diarrhea
- painful bowel movements
- abdominal pain, distention, tenderness
Again, toxic megacolon is a life-threatening scenario and requires immediate health care attention. Some of the possible life endangering complications of toxic colitis are:
If your megacolon is not toxic, treatment recommendations may be modifying your diet, along with taking laxatives and bulking agents to effectuate routine bowel movements.
In the urgent instance of toxic megacolon the treatment may require a colectomy, which is the removal of your entire colon. Also, antibiotics are given when an infection is suspected and electrolyte fluids are given to help prevent dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and shock.