Word parts
What it means
Causes include infection (as with C. difficilesee dif-uh-SEELClostridioides difficile, a spore-forming bacterium that can infect the colon (the large intestine).Full entry ), inflammatory bowel diseasein-FLAM-uh-tor-ee BOW-ul dih-ZEEZA group of long-term diseases, mainly Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, in which the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed.Full entry such as ulcerative colitis, poor blood flow to the bowel (ischemic colitis) and some drugs. It often brings diarrhea, belly cramps and sometimes blood in the stool.
For the nurse
Measure stools and intake and output, watch for dehydration, and use contact precautions with soap and water hand washing if C. difficile is suspected.
At a glance
| Spanish | colitis |
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Related terms
C. difficile
Clostridioides difficile, a spore-forming bacterium that can infect the colon (the large intestine).
col/o
A word root that means colon, the large intestine.
-itis
A word ending that means inflammation.
inflammatory bowel disease
A group of long-term diseases, mainly Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, in which the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed.