• External signs and symptoms are constipation of very long duration, abdominal bloating, abdominal tenderness and tympany, abdominal pain, palpation of hard fecal masses and, in toxic megacolon, fever, low blood potassium, tachycardia and may lead to shock. (wikipedia.org)
  • Congenital or aganglionic megacolon Medication Acquired megacolon, of which there are several possible causes: Idiopathic megacolon Toxic megacolon Megacolon secondary to infection Clostridium difficile Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) Pheochromocytoma, possibly secondary to its presenting constipation. (wikipedia.org)
  • Toxic megacolon is mainly seen in ulcerative colitis and pseudomembranous colitis, two chronic inflammations of the colon (and occasionally, in the other type of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease). (wikipedia.org)
  • citation needed] In patients with HIV/AIDS, cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is the leading cause of toxic megacolon and emergency laparotomy. (wikipedia.org)
  • CMV may also increase the risk of toxic megacolon in non-HIV/AIDS patients with IBD. (wikipedia.org)
  • Toxic megacolon occurs when swelling and inflammation spread into the deeper layers of your colon. (medlineplus.gov)
  • Treating diseases that cause toxic megacolon, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease, can prevent this condition. (medlineplus.gov)
  • Nishtala MV, Benlice C, Steele SR. Management of toxic megacolon. (medlineplus.gov)
  • Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening condition characterized by nonobstructive segmental or pancolonic dilatation of at least 6 cm with systemic toxicity. (medscape.com)
  • [ 2 ] Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common reason for toxic megacolon, other etiologies including infections, inflammation, bowel ischemia, radiation, and certain medications can lead to the development of this condition. (medscape.com)
  • [ 1 ] Patients with these conditions do not develop signs of systemic toxicity and, therefore, do not fall into the category of having toxic megacolon (see the image below). (medscape.com)
  • Although the precise pathophysiology of toxic megacolon is unproven, several factors may contribute to its development and precipitation. (medscape.com)
  • The microscopic hallmark of toxic megacolon is inflammation extending beyond the mucosa into the muscularis propria. (medscape.com)
  • Whereas the typical ulcerative colitis inflammatory response is limited to the mucosa, toxic megacolon is characterized by severe inflammation extending into the smooth muscle layer, thus paralyzing the colonic smooth muscle and leading to dilatation. (medscape.com)
  • As inflammation progresses into the smooth-muscle layers of the colon, NO and local inflammatory modulators appear to be involved in toxic megacolon pathogenesis. (medscape.com)
  • Neutrophils invade the muscle layer in toxic megacolon and directly damage the myocytes by the release of proteolytic enzymes, cytokines, and leukotriene B 4 . (medscape.com)
  • [ 8 ] According to a study by Schworer et al, patients with toxic megacolon were successfully treated with NO synthase inhibitor. (medscape.com)
  • Toxic megacolon (or toxic colitis) is defined as a severe episode of colitis with segmental or total dilatation of the colon. (medscape.com)
  • Patients with toxic megacolon often present in the emergency department as having abdominal distention superimposed on chronic or acute diarrhea. (medscape.com)
  • However, the role of this method of scintigraphy is limited in the diagnosis of toxic megacolon and in the determination of its severity. (medscape.com)
  • Chagas disease, Hirschsprung disease, and intestinal pseudo-obstruction may superficially resemble toxic megacolon on plain radiographs. (medscape.com)
  • [ 17 ] However, because they occur in totally different clinical settings, they are unlikely to be confused with toxic megacolon. (medscape.com)
  • Toxic megacolon is a clinical diagnosis, one based on thorough history taking and physical examination and supported by plain abdominal radiographic findings. (medscape.com)
  • A diagnosis of toxic megacolon can be made fairly confidently by using plain radiography in the appropriate clinical setting, although a series of radiographs may be required. (medscape.com)
  • If toxic megacolon is clinically suspected, patients are usually followed up with plain abdominal radiography every 12-24 hours, depending on the patient's clinical condition. (medscape.com)
  • Severe or untreated enterocolitis can also lead to toxic megacolon, another life-threatening complication. (rarediseases.org)
  • The resulting symptoms can range from mild diarrhea to a more severe toxic megacolon. (anylabtestnow.com)
  • A CDI ranges in severity from mild diarrhea to fulminant colitis, toxic megacolon, and death. (jhu.edu)
  • Life-threatening complications of Hirschsprung disease include bowel obstruction, Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) , and toxic megacolon. (aliem.com)
  • HAEC must be quickly identified in patients with Hirschsprung disease due to the risk of rapid decompensation from hypovolemic shock secondary to dehydration, septic shock from HAEC, and the development of toxic megacolon. (aliem.com)
  • Imodium must not be used when inhibition of peristalsis is to be avoided due to the possible risk of significant sequelae including ileus, megacolon and toxic megacolon. (medicines.org.uk)
  • There have been isolated reports of obstipation with an increased risk for toxic megacolon in AIDS patients with infectious colitis from both viral and bacterial pathogens treated with loperamide hydrochloride. (medicines.org.uk)
  • toxic megacolon the person goes to hospital, and receives fluids and nutrients intravenously instead of by mouth, plus antibiotics and steroids to reduce inflammation. (ulcertalk.com)
  • Toxic megacolon is another rare complication of shigellosis. (facty.com)
  • There, the doctors quickly recognized that our mother had toxic megacolon caused by bacteria called Clostridioides difficile ( C. diff ) and my mother was in septic shock. (cdc.gov)
  • Based upon the analysis pseudomembranous colitis, disease may progress to toxic weight applied to each record of this 1% sample, nation- megacolon, sepsis with or without intestinal perforation, al estimates were made regarding the number and charac- and death ( 2 ) CDAD is increasingly recognized among ter of all nonfederal, short-stay hospital discharges. (cdc.gov)
  • megacolon appeared only when there was a reduction of over 80% of the number of neurons these pathologies appeared as a result of the disruption of the neurally integrated control of peristalsis (muscular annular contraction) in those parts where a strong force is necessary to impel the luminal bolus of feces idiopathic megacolon and Chagas megacolon appear to have the same cause, namely the degeneration of the myenteric plexus. (wikipedia.org)
  • Idiopathic megacolon is a disease in cats where the colon loses its normal motility and becomes progressively larger. (acvs.org)
  • Stercoral ulcers are sometimes observed in chronic megacolon, which may lead to perforation of the intestinal wall in approximately 3% of the cases, leading to sepsis and risk of death. (wikipedia.org)
  • NEC presents with the gas accumulation in the submucosa of the bowel wall and progresses to necrosis leading to perforation of the bowel, peritonitis, and sepsis. (medscape.com)
  • Acquired megacolon is occasionally encountered in those with schizophrenia and severe depression . (britannica.com)
  • Left-sided colitis affects the left side of the colon and may lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other symptoms. (medicalnewstoday.com)
  • A patient with a CDI experiences a proliferation of C. difficile in the large intestine, which produces toxins A and B, leading to gut inflammation, fluid and mucus secretion, and colitis. (jhu.edu)
  • Ischemic colitis is caused by reduced blood flow to the colon, leading to inflammation and injury to the affected area. (healthcarelive.net)
  • Contaminated food, water, or poor hygiene can lead to this type of colitis. (healthcarelive.net)
  • In colitis, the immune system may mistakenly identify harmless substances in the digestive tract as threats and initiate an immune response, leading to inflammation. (healthcarelive.net)
  • Megacolon is an abnormal dilation of the colon (also called the large intestine). (wikipedia.org)
  • This leads to hypertrophy of the colon. (wikipedia.org)
  • In this, the destruction of the autonomic nervous system innervation of the colon leads to a loss of the normal smooth muscle tone of the wall and subsequent gradual dilation. (wikipedia.org)
  • NO is generated by macrophages and smooth muscles cells in the inflamed portions of the colon, inhibiting smooth muscle tone and leading to colonic dilatation. (medscape.com)
  • Abnormal rotation of the colon is fairly frequent and occasionally leads to disorders. (britannica.com)
  • Megacolon is a term used to describe a very dilated, flaccid, incompetent colon. (acvs.org)
  • Megacolon itself is not a specific disease entity, but it will usually result in obstipation (inability to defecate), since feces is retained in the colon in a larger diameter than is able to pass through the pelvis. (acvs.org)
  • HSCR can sometimes lead to a condition called enterocolitis, which is inflammation of the small intestines and colon. (rarediseases.org)
  • Whenever there is an absence of the ganglion cells there is a lack of peristalsis in the affected: causing accumulation of the gas and faces leading to the enlargement of the colon resulting in a megacolon. (tutorialspoint.com)
  • Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common cause of health care-associated diarrhea in industrialized countries ( 1 ), and the leading cause of intestinal infection related to antimicrobial drug consumption ( 2 ). (cdc.gov)
  • The pathogenicity of C. difficile is based on the action of at least 1 of the 2 main cytotoxins (A and B) acting as glycosyltransferases that modify guanose triphosphatases within the intestinal epithelial cells and lead to the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. (cdc.gov)
  • The growth of C. difficile can lead to damage of the gastrointestinal lining. (anylabtestnow.com)
  • 4 Fluoroquinolones are common antibiotics given for respiratory conditions, so overtreatment of pneumonia can lead to a subsequent case of C. difficile . (mlo-online.com)
  • Cytotoxin production by other bacteria (ie, Shigella dysenteriae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium difficile, enterohemorrhagic E coli ) results in mucosal cell destruction that leads to bloody stools with inflammatory cells. (medscape.com)
  • A megacolon can be either acute or chronic. (wikipedia.org)
  • When it comes to chronic megacolon, dietary and pharmacological methods should be used to increase intestinal motility. (healthygutjourney.com)
  • Biofeedback may not be effective for the etiology of colonic inertia in chronic megacolon, although it has been successful in treating functional outlet obstruction. (healthygutjourney.com)
  • Chronic inflammation and reduced nutrient absorption can lead to weight loss in some cases. (healthcarelive.net)
  • These findings were supported by the idea that, in animal models, giving dexamethasone and/or decontaminating the bowel with broad-spectrum antibiotics led to decreased NO levels and improvement in colonic dilatation. (medscape.com)
  • It develops when an unusual response by the body's immune system leads to inflammation in the intestinal tract. (medicalnewstoday.com)
  • The inflammation of UC is confined to the mucosal layer and, as a result, leads to different types of disease-related signs, symptoms, and complications. (nscibd.ca)
  • Diagnosis of megacolon is based on history and physical exam , and is confirmed with radiographs (x-rays) of the abdomen. (acvs.org)
  • Systemic uptake of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators leads to fever, tachycardia, hypotension, and other signs of systemic toxicity. (medscape.com)
  • HAEC is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. (aliem.com)
  • It is characterized by the formation of ulcers and can lead to various symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. (healthcarelive.net)
  • Crohns disease can also be debilitating and in some cases, it may lead to life-threatening complications. (ulcertalk.com)
  • However, a recent study reports that binary toxin not only affects the actin cytoskeleton but also induces the formation of microtubule-based protrusions on the surface of epithelial cells, leading to increased adherence of bacteria ( 17 ). (cdc.gov)
  • Megacolon is secondary to colonic inertia (functional obstruction) or outlet obstruction (mechanical obstruction). (acvs.org)
  • 3, 4, 7 A CDI often leads to prolonged hospitalization and significant financial burden. (jhu.edu)
  • This produces an increased luminal fluid content that cannot be adequately reabsorbed, leading to dehydration and the loss of electrolytes and nutrients. (medscape.com)
  • A treatment meant to prevent infection led to a fatal one. (cdc.gov)
  • Acquired megacolon is commonly caused by a combination of faulty toilet training and emotional disorders during childhood, in which the child withholds defecation. (britannica.com)
  • Due to fat malabsorption and dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism, patients with CF frequently have essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD), 6 which contributes to poor growth and can lead to immune system compromise, dermatitis, alopecia, and thrombocytopenia. (contemporarypediatrics.com)
  • Patients who were positive for toxin had a higher case-fatality rate than those who were either toxigenic culture-positive but toxin-negative, or those who were negative by both methods, leading the authors to conclude that a positive toxin result exhibited greater accuracy for CDI, and identified patients who needed treatment. (mlo-online.com)
  • You suffer from a nervous or brain disease that has damaged nerves that lead to the intestine muscles. (americanceliac.org)
  • Hemolytic uremic syndrome can be caused by shigellosis as well, leading to low platelet counts, low red blood cell count, and kidney failure. (facty.com)
  • UC is a lifelong condition that can lead to life-threatening problems. (ulcertalk.com)
  • In serious cases, they may lead to death. (eisai.com)