Toxic megacolon

Toxic megacolon
Other names	Megacolon toxicum
Micrograph of pseudomembranous colitis, a cause of toxic megacolon. H&E stain.
Specialty	Gastroenterology
Symptoms	Swelling of the belly, Pain in the belly, Fever, Rapid heart rate, Shock, Diarrhea.[1]
Complications	Septic shock, perforation of the colon
Risk factors	Chronic bowel disease
Prognosis	Fatal without treatment

Toxic megacolon is an acute form of colonic distension.^[2] It is characterized by a very dilated colon (megacolon), accompanied by abdominal distension (bloating), and sometimes fever, abdominal pain, or shock.

Toxic megacolon is usually a complication of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and, more rarely, Crohn's disease, and of some infections of the colon, including Clostridium difficile infections, which have led to pseudomembranous colitis. Other forms of megacolon exist and can be congenital (present since birth, such as Hirschsprung's disease). It can also be caused by Entamoeba histolytica and Shigella. It may also be caused by the use of loperamide.