Colon Infection

High fat diets and the stress of modern day living are two major contributing factors to several stomach ailments. Colon infection is a common condition that affects almost everyone sometime during his or her life. Your high fat diet that lacks vital nutrients is one of the main causes of a colon infection. Fatty mucous that lines the walls of the colon causes harmful bacteria to breed rapidly, leading to a full blown infection. Some of the common symptoms include diarrhea, constipation and vomiting.

Diverticula and Colon Infection

Diverticula are small openings or pockets in the colon wall. Some foods that are hard to digest can block the diverticula, leading to a condition known as divurticulitis, a common digestive disorder today. The undigested or semi-digested food that remains in the diverticula begins to rot, causing a severe colon infection with symptoms such as cramping and pain in the lower abdomen. Among the main causes for infection is eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, eating without washing your hands and a weak immune system, among others.

Colitis

Some of the main symptoms associated with a colon infection are vomiting, fatigue, fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and cramps. A mild infection may bring on bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. Even though the colon is said to be a resilient organ, there are times when it fails to fight off harmful bacteria, leading to a colon infection. Colitis is caused by a bacterial infection contracted from contaminated food. When you suffer from colitis, you may experience frequent, watery stools, with bouts of vomiting and abdominal cramps. It is important to seek early treatment for colitis to avoid dehydration and perforation of the bowel. Among the immediate forms of treatment are antibiotics to clear the infection along with plenty of fluids with electrolytes to prevent dehydration.

Ulcerative Colitis

Another type of colon infection is ulcerative colitis, which is an acute form of colitis. Symptoms include inflammation of the colon, fever and diarrhea with the passing of blood, mucus and pus. The inflammation causes ulcers which bleed and produce pus. Ulcerative colitis can be difficult to diagnose since the symptoms are similar to Crohn’s disease. Blood tests, stool samples and colonoscopy are the common methods used to diagnose ulcerative colitis. Treatment for ulcerative colitis includes a bland diet and plenty of bed rest. In severe cases, corticosteroids are prescribed in order to control diarrhea.

Prevention and Treatment of Colon Infections

Maintaining a high fiber diet and staying well hydrated to balance the electrolyte levels in your body is important. The best way to prevent colon infections is to keep the colon healthy by leading a healthy lifestyle. Alcohol and smoking are known to trigger colon infections and interfere with the lining of the colon. Undergoing colon hydrotherapy to cleanse the colon is a good way to improve your body’s immune system and ensure that the colon is free from harmful bacteria. If you choose to use colon cleansing products, it is important to make sure that only 100% natural ingredients are used in them.

There are several natural remedies to treat infections with no side effects usually associated with conventional forms of treatment. Maintaining a healthier colon will automatically reduce the risk of any colon infection.