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Ileitis is inflammation of the ileum, often caused by Crohn’s disease, but can also be caused by infection or other conditions. Symptoms include abdominal discomfort and diarrhea, and untreated ileitis can lead to serious complications. Treatment options include antibiotics, rest, and corticosteroids, but surgery may be necessary in some cases.
The condition ileitis refers to a swollen or inflamed part of the intestine. In this case the ileum or lower part of the small intestine is involved, and this can be painful and uncomfortable to bear. In the ileitis literature, the most common cause of this condition is the presence of Crohn’s disease, but there are other causes, and a diagnosis of this condition is not necessarily a diagnosis of Crohn’s.
As stated there are variable causes of this condition. If Crohn’s disease is present, it can cause inflammation of the small intestine. Infection can sometimes cause this condition as well, and people with conditions such as diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or celiac disease could develop this disease. There are also some diseases like tuberculosis or yellow fever that can manifest this disease.
The main symptoms can vary from person to person, but one common symptom is discomfort in the abdomen. People may define it differently as sharp, pulling, sensitive to the touch or anything else. Usually a swollen lower intestine causes diarrhea which can be quite severe and can make eating difficult so that people lose weight easily. On scans or x-rays of various types the ileum may appear swollen or thickened and this can help determine if the condition is present.
One concern of not diagnosing or treating ileitis is that it can cause ongoing pain and weight loss, and can cause serious complications. These include bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Untreated ileitis can also cause intestinal blockage, which can be fatal without being removed. To prevent the condition from progressing to this point, doctors may have a variety of treatment suggestions.
In the first few days after a diagnosis, people may be placed on a very bland and simple diet, and are also likely to be given antibiotics to kill any possible infection present. People are often told to rest and not engage in strenuous activities. To deal with the pain, painkillers might be given, but this is a difficult decision as many opioids cause constipation, which can be very undesirable. A better option is to reduce pain by reducing swelling, and treatment for this tends to involve corticosteroids such as prednisone. People may be on different medications for a while, depending on the underlying cause.
When ileitis does not respond to treatment, a surgical approach may be considered. This is a surgery that most doctors would avoid whenever possible because it means changing lifestyle habits forever. With it, people will have to scoop waste from the pouch in their stomach, usually at least two or three times a day. In some cases, however, an ileostomy is the only potential treatment, and without it, people continue to experience chronic pain or have an unacceptably continued risk of complications.
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