Dr. Swanson describes the differences between colitis and ulcerative colitis.
Dr. Swanson:
Yes. Colitis can be caused by about 20 different things, the most common usually being infectious, which is reversible and short term. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease, specifically of the immune system, where patients have increased immune activity that attacks their colon and has a specific phenotypic pattern that we see.
About Dr. Swanson, M.D., M.S.:
Dr. Garth Swanson, M.D., M.S., is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Digestive Diseases at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. His practice focuses on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Swanson has a master's degree in clinical research and his research interests include how environmental factors, such as alcohol and sleep, can affect gut inflammation and colonic bacteria.
Dr. Swanson received his medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his residency and his fellowship at Rush University Medical Center. His special interests include inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis.
Visit Dr. Swanson at Rush University Medical Center