A colon lesion is an abnormality in the colon that is caused by inflammation. Not all lesions are cancerous. A person can get a lesion from Crohn’s disease, an infection, polyps or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Crohn’s disease is one cause of a colon lesion. This illness is chronic and causes the bowel to be inflamed. The inflammation can cause Crohn’s disease suffers to get diarrhea, bloody stool and stomach cramping on a frequent basis. Even though this disease does not have a cure, treatment is available. Patients can manage their symptoms by taking doctor-prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs as well as pain relievers and anti-diarrheal medications on some occasions.
Infections of the digestive system also can be responsible for a colon lesion. A salmonella infection from tainted food is one of the most common infections. After a person is infected with salmonella, he or she is likely to experience bowel inflammation and excessive diarrhea for one to four days. The only thing that really gets rid of salmonella is time and letting the bacteria exit the body. It is important for people who are suffering from a salmonella infection to stay hydrated.
Polyps can be one of the scarier causes of a colon lesion. Sometimes people associate polyps with colon cancer, but not all polyps are cancerous. A polyp is a growth found in the large intestine during a colonoscopy. Doctors typically test the polyps to make sure that they are not cancerous.
Many men develop colon polyps in their 50s simply because of age or genetics. Both women and men who are younger than 50 can be at a higher risk for polyps if someone in their family has had uterine cancer or colon cancer. Even benign polyps can be an inconvenience because they can cause rectal bleeding and constipation and might need to be removed. People can lower their risk for polyp growth by not smoking or drinking and by eating a healthy, high-fiber diet.
Irritable bowel syndrome is another possible cause of colon lesions because IBS patients experience excessive inflammation from chronic diarrhea or chronic constipation. The cause of IBS is unknown, but many IBS patients seem to have spastic intestine muscles. Typical IBS symptoms include debilitating gas pains and bloating, which often occur after eating or during a high-anxiety situation. People who have IBS are encouraged to eat smaller meals and avoid caffeine to help curb attacks.