What Causes Colitis in Adults?

Heredity

One of the most predominant causes of colitis is heredity. According to the Mayo Clinic, research has shown that certain people can inherit a genetic mutation that essentially predisposes them to develop colitis; however, which genes play a role in the condition is still up for debate. A person with colitis is likely to have a family member (or a number of family members) suffering with this particular condition, leading researchers to believe genes contribute to the development of colitis.

Antibiotics

Certain medications can contribute to this inflammatory disorder. Some people on antibiotics can actually begin to develop colitis. This is largely due to the way these medications interact with bacteria in a stomach. Everyone has naturally occurring bacteria that resides in their digestive system. When antibiotics are introduced, they can disrupt the balance of the bacteria, allowing the growth (or overgrowth) of some strains. This can then cause the lining of the colon to become irritated and inflamed, resulting in colitis.

Immune System

Another fairly popular belief among scientists, according to the Mayo Clinic, is that some people's immune system may influence the development of colitis. When a person gets sick, his immune system inevitably tries to fight off the infection. In most people, the immune system simply fights off the bacterial trespassers without any problem. But for some, this natural defense mechanism may cause the digestive system to become irritated and inflamed, causing colitis. In other people, the immune system may begin to fight off something that isn't there (an occurrence due to some sort of autoimmune disorder), again causing colitis.

Blood Supply

Some adults develop colitis due to the amount of blood (or lack of blood) flowing to their colons. When blood flow is restricted or insufficient, blood vessels can become inflamed. If this were to happen to the colon, it can result in the development of colitis. This restriction in blood flow can be due to a number of different disorders and even treatments of these disorders. It may come about from fatty deposits, diabetes mellitus, a hernia or even an infection.

Stress

Scientists are less inclined to believe that stress is a direct cause of colitis in adults, but there is a link between stress and flare-ups of the condition, making this specific external factor an important part of a person's therapeutic management of her disorder. When someone becomes "stressed," for one reason or another, his immune system is roused, so to speak, which can cause an inflammation of the colon, bringing on many of the symptoms linked to colitis.