Allergic colitis differential diagnosis

Colitis Main Page
Allergic colitis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Allergic colitis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
X Ray
CT
MRI
Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Allergic colitis differential diagnosis On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Allergic colitis differential diagnosis All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Allergic colitis differential diagnosis
CDC on Allergic colitis differential diagnosis
Allergic colitis differential diagnosis in the news
Blogs on Allergic colitis differential diagnosis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Uveitis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Allergic colitis differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Qasim Salau, M.B.B.S., FMCPaed [2]

Overview

Symptoms and signs of allergic colitis are non-specific and seen in other causes of colitis and some systemic diseases. Detailed history and physical examination is needed to make the diagnosis. In addition, endoscopy with biopsy may be required to confirm the diagnosis. In infancy, allergic colitis must particularly be differentiated from necrotizing enterocolitis, infectious colitis, anal fissure, intussusception and volvolus. In adolescent and adults, allergic colitis must be differentiated from inflammatory bowel disease, infectious colitis, and colorectal malignancy.

Differentiating Allergic colitis from other Diseases

The differential diagnosis of allergic colitis can be classified into two according to age group.

Differential diagnosis in Infants

• Swallowed maternal blood syndrome
• Anorectal fissure
• Necrotizing enterocolitis especially in preterm babies
• Vitamin K deficiency hemorrhage
• Other Coagulopathies (hereditary such as coagulation factor deficiency or acquired such as Liver disease with clotting factor deficiency)
• Intussusception
• Infectious colitis
• Hirschsprung disease complicated by enterocolitis
• Volvolus
• Inflammatory bowel disease(early onset)
• Meckel diverticulum
• Dermatitis
• Gastrointestinal duplication cyst
• Vascular malformations
• Gastro-duodenal ulcers
• Lymphonodular hyperplasia

Differential diagnosis in adolescent/ adult

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Behcet's disease
• Arteriovenous malformation
• Diverticulosis
• Infectious colitis
• Coagulopathy
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura
• Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)
• Colorectal malignancy

The table below lists the differential diagnosis of common causes of colitis:

Diseases	History and Symptoms				Physical Examination				Laboratory findings				Other Findings
	Diarrhea	Rectal bleeding	Abdominal pain	Atopy	Dehydration	Fever	Hypotension	Malnutrition	Blood in stool (frank or occult)	Microorganism in stool	Pseudomembranes on endoscopy	Lab Test 4
Allergic Colitis	+	++	+	++					++
Chemical colitis	+	++	++		+	+		+			+
Infectious colitis	++	++	+		+++	+++	++		+	++	+
Radiation colitis	+	++	+		+			+
Ischemic colitis	+	++	++			+		++		+