Caecitis or cecitis, also called typhlitis or typhlenteritis, is an inflammation of the caecum (part of the large intestine) that may be associated with infection.

The condition is usually caused by gram positive enteric commensal bacteria of the gut (gut flora).

Caecitis affects immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, patients with AIDS, kidney transplant patients, or the elderly.

Signs and symptoms of caecitis include a distended abdomen, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and tenderness, and diarrhoea.

Inflammation can spread to other parts of the gut in patients with caecitis.

The condition can also cause the caecum to become distended and can cut off its blood supply. This and other factors can result in necrosis and perforation of the bowel, which can cause peritonitis and sepsis. The mortality rate for caecitis can be as high as 40 to 50%, mostly because it is frequently associated with bowel perforation. Caecitis is diagnosed with a radiograph CT scan showing thickening of the caecum and "fat stranding".




This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caecitis

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