Chronic colitis in the elderly
My father is 70 years old. Recently, he often has constipation and complains of pain in the lower abdomen. His stomach often rumbles and feels like he is burning in the intestines. What disease does he have?
Tran Thi Minh Phuong (Hai Duong)
According to your letter, it is very likely that your father has this disease.colitischronic. The colon is the last part of the digestive tract, usually 1.5 - 2m long, located in the abdomen in an upside-down U shape. The function of the colon is to continue digesting the remaining food residue that has been absorbed by the small intestine to recover some of the remaining water, sugar and B vitamins.
When suffering from chronic colitis, the patient has a dull abdominal pain, sometimes severe pain in attacks unrelated to eating or drinking. Feelingbloating, boiling, heartburn; sometimes constipated, only going once every 4-5 days, stools lumpy like goat droppings. Sometimes loose stools 3-4 times a day.
There are cases where the symptoms alternate between constipation and diarrhea. Because the symptoms of the disease are often so atypical,elderly peopleCareful attention and advice are needed to avoid missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
If your father only has constipation symptoms, medication will help, but if there is prolonged bowel disorder, rapid weight loss... you must take your father to see a gastroenterologist to rule out cancer. To avoid constipation, you should encourage your father to drink plenty of water (1.5 liters/day), have a diet rich in fiber, limit stimulants, and exercise regularly.
According to Health & Life - NT
