clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Patients with toxic megacolon are typically recently diagnosed with colitis:
- 30% had been diagnosed within the previous 3 months
- 60% had been diagnosed within the previous 3 years
Toxic megacolon occurs in the setting of an acute exacerbation in the colitis.
The physical signs include:
- altered consciousness
- tachycardia
- postural hypotension
- fever
- abdominal distension and tenderness
- there may be signs of local or generalised peritonitis
- steroids and analgesics may mask symptoms and signs