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Digestive system
Digestive system
Toxic megacolon
Toxic megacolon
Crohn's disease - affected areas
Crohn's disease - affected areas
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Digestive system organs
Digestive system organs
OverviewSymptomsTreatmentPrevention

Toxic megacolon

Definition:
Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication of other intestinal conditions, characterized by a very dilated colon, abdominal distention, and sometimes fever, abdominal pain, or shock.

Alternative Names:
Toxic dilation of the colon; Megarectum

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

This is a complication of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and some infections of the colon. Other forms of megacolon exist and can be congenital (from birth) or associated with some forms of constipation.



Review Date: 2/15/2002
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, and Elizabeth Hait, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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