Colitis means inflammation of the colon and can happen because of infection, inflammatory bowel disease, or reduced blood flow.
Symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, urgency, blood in the stool, fever, bloating, and feeling unwell during flare-ups.
Imaging helps when symptoms are severe, when another abdominal problem needs to be ruled out, or when doctors are checking for complications such as dilation or perforation.
CT can help show bowel wall thickening, inflammation, complications, and how much of the colon is involved.
Treatment depends on the cause and may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory treatment, fluids, or specialist bowel care.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.