Chemical colitis is a type of

colitis Colitis is swelling or inflammation Inflammation (from ) is part of the biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. The five cardinal signs are heat, pain, redness, swelling, and ...

, an

inflammation Inflammation (from ) is part of the biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. The five cardinal signs are heat, pain, redness, swelling, and loss of function (Latin ''calor'', '' ...

of the large

intestine The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascular system. T ...

or colon, caused by the introduction of harsh chemicals to the colon by an

enema An enema, also known as a clyster, is the rectal administration of a fluid by injection into the Large intestine, lower bowel via the anus.Cullingworth, ''A Manual of Nursing, Medical and Surgical'':155 The word ''enema'' can also refer to the ...

or other procedure. Soap enemas have been implicated in chemical colitis.K. Harish, Severe colitis induced by soap enemas, Indian J. Gastroent., 2006 Other chemicals that may lead to chemical colitis (introduced into the colon either unintentionally or intentionally as part of a medical procedure) include alcohol,

radiocontrast agents Radiocontrast agents are substances used to enhance the visibility of internal structures in X-ray-based imaging techniques such as computed tomography (contrast CT), projectional radiography, and fluoroscopy. Radiocontrast agents are typically iod ...

glutaraldehyde Glutaraldehyde is an organic compound with the formula . The molecule consists of a five carbon chain doubly terminated with formyl (CHO) groups. It is usually used as a solution in water, and such solutions exists as a collection of hydrates, ...

(used to disinfect surfaces and sterilize medical equipment),

formalin Formaldehyde ( , ) (systematic name methanal) is an organic compound with the chemical formula and structure , more precisely . The compound is a pungent, colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde. It is stored as ...

(often used as a disinfectant),

ergotamine Ergotamine, sold under the brand name Ergomar among others, is an ergopeptine and part of the ergot family of alkaloids; it is structurally and biochemically closely related to ergoline. It is structurally similar to several neurotransmitter ...

(suppository for migraine headaches),

hydrofluoric acid Hydrofluoric acid is a solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in water. Solutions of HF are colorless, acidic and highly corrosive. A common concentration is 49% (48–52%) but there are also stronger solutions (e.g. 70%) and pure HF has a boiling p ...

sulfuric acid Sulfuric acid (American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphuric acid (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth spelling), known in antiquity as oil of vitriol, is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulfur, oxygen, ...

acetic acid Acetic acid , systematically named ethanoic acid , is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula (also written as , , or ). Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main compone ...

ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the chemical formula, formula . A Binary compounds of hydrogen, stable binary hydride and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinctive pu ...

, soap,

sodium hydroxide Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations and hydroxide anions . Sodium hydroxide is a highly corrosive base (chemistry), ...

hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula . In its pure form, it is a very pale blue liquid that is slightly more viscosity, viscous than Properties of water, water. It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, usua ...

, herbal medicines,

chloroxylenol Chloroxylenol, also known as ''para''-chloro-''meta''-xylenol (PCMX), is a chlorine substituted phenol with a white to off-white appearance and a phenolic odor. The discovery of chloroxylenol was the result of efforts to produce improved antisep ...

and

potassium permanganate Potassium permanganate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KMnO4. It is a purplish-black crystalline salt, which dissolves in water as K+ and ions to give an intensely pink to purple solution. Potassium permanganate is widely us ...

. Harsh chemicals, such as compounds used to clean

colonoscopes Colonoscopy () or coloscopy () is a medical procedure involving the endoscopic examination of the large bowel (colon) and the distal portion of the small bowel. This examination is performed using either a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera, ...

, are sometimes accidentally introduced into the colon during

colonoscopy Colonoscopy () or coloscopy () is a medical procedure involving the Endoscopy, endoscopic examination of the large bowel (colon) and the distal portion of the small bowel. This examination is performed using either a Charge-coupled device, CCD ...

leading to chemical colitis. Sometimes chemicals are purposefully introduced into the colon during sexual activities, suicide attempts or during colon cleanses that lead to chemical colitis. The symptoms of chemical colitis are non-specific and may include diarrhea, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. Symptoms of colitis are assessed using the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index. In a small case series, the colon inflammation seen using colonoscopy in cases of chemical colitis due to glutaraldehyde was non-specific and similar to inflammation seen in

ischemic colitis Ischemic colitis (also spelled ischaemic colitis) is a medical condition in which inflammation and injury of the large intestine result from inadequate blood supply (ischemia). Although uncommon in the general population, ischemic colitis occurs ...

inflammatory bowel disease Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine, with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) being the principal types. Crohn's disease affects the small intestine and large intestine ...

or infectious colitis. The incidence of chemical colitis is not known but it is believed to be a rare occurrence. In a population based observational study,

glycerin Glycerol () is a simple triol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, viscous liquid. The glycerol backbone is found in lipids known as glycerides. It is also widely used as a sweetener in the food industry and as a humectant in pha ...

enemas used for constipation had an incidence of

of 0.23% in an emergency department population. The mean age of those experiencing ischemic colitis after a glycerin enema was 70 years, and the mean time to ischemic colitis onset was 5.5 hours after enema administration. Chemical colitis may trigger a flare of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis. Treatment is usually with supportive care until the colitis resolves. But in severe cases of chemical colitis with extensive injury, especially in cases with highly caustic substances, a

colectomy Colectomy (''wikt:colo-#Prefix, col-'' + ''wikt:-ectomy#Suffix, -ectomy'') is the surgical removal of any extent of the Large intestine#Structure, colon, the longest portion of the large bowel. Colectomy may be performed for prophylactic, curativ ...

(surgical removal of the damaged portion of the colon) is sometimes required.

References

{{Disease-stub Inflammations Colitis