patients with infectious diarrhea tend to get better relatively quickly with supportive care. most infections will resolve with or without specific treatment such as antibiotics. patients with inflammatory bowel disease probably will require lifelong treatment to help control their symptoms. the goal as with any long-term illness is to allow the patient to live a normal life with minimal symptoms from the disease. patients with ischemic colitis need to minimize their risk factors for progressive narrowing of the arteries. these are the same risks as for heart disease including controlling high blood pressure diabetes and high cholesterol; and stopping smoking. patients with severe ischemia that leads to dead (gangrenous) colon require surgery to remove the gangrenous segment.
what is the prognosis for a patient with colitis?