What are the Symptoms of Collagenous Colitis and Lymphocytic Colitis?
Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis can affect different parts of the colon. In some people, the inflammation tends to occur in patches along the lining of the colon. In other people, it’s present along the entire length of the bowel. Collagenous colitis is so named because of the thickened layer of connective tissue (collagen) in the colon’s lining. Lymphocytic colitis gets its name because of the increased level of specialized white blood cells (lymphocytes) found in the colon. In both collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis, the signs and symptoms are virtually identical. Chronic diarrhea is the most common sign. This diarrhea is watery and nonbloody, and often starts quite suddenly. The diarrhea may become constant, or in some people, it’s intermittent, with symptoms improving and then worsening again in a repeated cycle. Most affected people may have from four to nine watery bowel movements a day, although up to 20 daily bowel movements are possible with this condition
