Infectious colitis endoscopy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Qasim Salau, M.B.B.S., FMCPaed [2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Endoscopy is not routinely indicated in infectious colitis. However, it is useful in cases of diarrhea (bloody or non-bloody) with positive fecal leukocytes, but negative culture. It is also useful in distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease and infectious colitis. In most causes of infectious colitis, endoscopic findings are not pathognomonic. Common endoscopic features in infectious colitis include patchy or diffuse erythematous mucosa, mucosa edema, hemorrhage, with or without ulcers.

Endoscopy[edit | edit source]

Endoscopy is not routinely indicated in infectious colitis. However, it is usually used as a supportive diagnostic tool in cases of diarrhea (bloody or non-bloody) of unknown cause in which there is positive fecal leukocytes, but negative stool culture. It is also useful in distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease from infectious colitis. In some causes of infectious colitis such as cytomegalovirus colitis, endoscopy with colonic tissue biopsy for histology is considered the gold standard diagnostic method. Common endoscopic features in infectious colitis include patchy or diffuse erythematous mucosa, mucosa edema, hemorrhage, with or without ulcers. Endoscopic features seen in infectious colitis depend on the virulence of the infectious agent and the host body response. ^[1][2][3][4]

References[edit | edit source]

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