"What Are the Early Symptoms of Colitis?"

Early Symptoms of Colitis

1. Abdominal pain, often dull or cramping, typically located in the lower left abdomen or lower abdomen. However, this pain subsides after bowel movements. Mild colitis patients may experience no abdominal pain or only mild discomfort. Additionally, bowel movements can be more painful, accompanied by diarrhea and the passage of bloody mucus.

2. Diarrhea is a primary early symptom of colitis. Mild cases involve 3-4 bowel movements daily, with soft or mushy stools that may be mixed with mucus and blood. Severe cases can result in dozens of bowel movements daily, alternating with constipation. Frequent recurrences are often triggered by improper diet, emotional stress, or excessive fatigue.

3. Constipation, characterized by infrequent bowel movements, with less than 2 or 3 bowel movements within 7 days, or even no bowel movements for over 10 days. Stools are small in volume, dry and hard, making defecation difficult and accompanied by abdominal discomfort or pain, which eases after bowel movements. It's crucial to note that constipation and diarrhea, as early symptoms of colitis, may alternate in severe cases, requiring special attention.

4. Massive hematochezia refers to significant blood loss in a short period, accompanied by increased pulse rate, decreased blood pressure, and pale complexion, necessitating immediate hospitalization for blood transfusion. Other early symptoms of colitis include loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, bowel sounds, insomnia, excessive dreaming, and intolerance to cold. In severe cases, patients may experience fever, rapid heartbeat, weakness, anemia, dehydration, and nutritional disorders.