Infectious colitis is inflammation of your large intestine (colon) caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites. When these organisms invade the colon lining, they trigger swelling and irritation that lead to symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain. It differs from gastroenteritis, which affects both the stomach and the intestines.
Symptoms often appear suddenly and may include:
Infectious colitis develops when your colon is irritated by various pathogens or exposures, such as:
With a focus on patient-centered care and comprehensive digestive health solutions, GastroDoxs provides expert diagnostics and effective treatment for infectious colitis. Our approach is rooted in compassionate, personalized care to help you achieve fast relief and restored well-being. Book an appointment today with our Houston specialists and take the first step toward feeling like yourself again.
We've successfully treated more than 1.5K patients, helping individuals improve their digestive health and overall well-being through expert, personalized care.
With over 20 years of experience, GastroDoxs has been a trusted provider of gastroenterology care, focusing on delivering the best outcomes for patients
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
Most people recover within 5-10 days with proper care. Severe cases may take 2-4 weeks to fully resolve.
Infectious colitis is classified under ICD-10 codes A00-A09. Your doctor will select the specific code based on the identified pathogen.
Infectious colitis is triggered by germs-bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella), viruses (Norovirus, Rotavirus), or parasites (Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica)-usually contracted through contaminated food, water, or close contact.
Schedule an evaluation if diarrhea lasts over 2 days, you notice blood in your stool, experience high fever, or show signs of dehydration (dizziness, dry mouth, decreased urination).
At GastroDoxs, we provide oral or IV fluids to prevent dehydration, targeted antibiotics or antivirals, careful use of anti-diarrheal medications, and dietary guidance like the BRAT diet to support gut healing.
Antibiotics are prescribed only if bacterial pathogens are confirmed. Viral infections do not benefit from antibiotics and are managed with supportive care.
Yes. It can spread through ingestion of contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, or touching surfaces with infectious agents, then touching your mouth.
Practice good hand hygiene, cook foods to safe temperatures, drink clean water, and avoid sharing utensils or personal items with infected individuals.
Diagnosis may include stool cultures, blood tests, and, in some cases, a colonoscopy to identify the specific organism and assess colon inflammation.
Seek medical attention within 1-2 days of symptom onset if diarrhea is severe, persistent, or accompanied by fever, dehydration, or blood in the stool.
