What condition can be associated with toxic megacolon?

Toxic megacolon is a severe complication that can occur with ulcerative colitis, which is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this condition, the colon becomes severely inflamed and can dilate significantly, leading to an increase in the risk of colonic perforation, sepsis, and a significant compromise in the overall health of the patient. The inflammation seen in ulcerative colitis can disrupt normal motility and cause toxic megacolon as the colon's ability to relax and contract properly is impaired.

Other conditions in the list, while they may have their own complications or issues related to the gastrointestinal tract, do not typically lead to toxic megacolon. For instance, appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix and does not directly affect the colon in a way that would result in toxic megacolon. Hirschsprung’s disease involves congenital absence of ganglion cells in segments of the colon, leading to obstruction, but it does not lead to the widespread inflammatory process associated with toxic megacolon. Diverticulitis involves inflammation of diverticula in the colon, typically causing localized problems and does not commonly result in toxic megacolon either. Therefore, ulcerative colitis stands out as the condition most commonly