Symptoms of Ulcerative colitis

"Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)

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"A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis" (1999)

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Intestinal obstruction

"Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)" (2005)

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Ulcerative colitis

"Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)" (2005)

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"Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)

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"The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)

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"Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis" (2007)

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Intestinal obstruction

"Handbook of Diseases" (2003)

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Ulcerative colitis

"Handbook of Diseases" (2003)

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"Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series" (2007)

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"Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)

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"The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics" (2006)

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"Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)

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Ulcerative Colitis

"The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult" (2008)

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Patient Surveys for Ulcerative colitis

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Symptoms of Ulcerative colitis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Ulcerative colitis.

Intestinal obstruction: Signs and Symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Depending on location of obstruction: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drowsiness, thirst, rebound tenderness, abdominal distention, dehydration, constipation

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Ulcerative colitis: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The hallmark of ulcerative colitis is recurrent attacks of bloody diarrhea, in many cases containing pus and mucus, interspersed with asymptomatic remissions. The intensity of these attacks varies with the extent of inflammation. It isn’t uncommon for a patient with ulcerative colitis to have as many as 15 to 20 liquid, bloody stools daily. Other symptoms include spastic rectum and anus, abdominal pain, irritability, weight loss, weakness, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting.

Ulcerative colitis may lead to complications, such as hemorrhage, stricture, or perforation of the colon. Other complications include joint inflammation, ankylosing spondylitis, eye lesions, mouth ulcers, liver disease, and pyoderma gangrenosum. Scientists think that these complications occur when the immune system triggers inflammation in other parts of the body. These disorders are usually mild and disappear when the colitis is treated.

Patients with ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer; children with ulcerative colitis may experience impaired growth and sexual development.

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Intestinal obstruction: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Signs and symptoms depend on the location and extent of the obstruction.

Partial small-bowel obstruction

Colicky pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal distention, and signs and symptoms of dehydration characterize small-bowel obstruction.

Auscultation reveals bowel sounds, borborygmi, and rushes; occasionally, they’re loud enough to be heard without a stethoscope. Palpation elicits abdominal tenderness with moderate distention; rebound tenderness occurs when the obstruction has caused strangulation with ischemia. In late stages, signs of hypovolemic shock result from progressive dehydration and plasma loss.

Complete small-bowel obstruction

In a complete small-intestinal (small-bowel) obstruction, vigorous peristaltic waves propel bowel contents toward the mouth instead of the rectum. Spasms may occur every 3 to 5 minutes and last about 1 minute each, with persistent epigastric or periumbilical pain. Small amounts of mucus and blood may be passed. The higher the obstruction, the earlier and more severe the vomiting. Vomitus initially contains gastric juice, then bile, and finally fecal contents of the ileum. Constipation develops with complete obstruction. There’s minimal or no fever. Abdominal distention is pronounced. Mild tenderness is present. Peristaltic rushes and high-pitched tinkles occur during paroxysms of pain. Visible peristalsis may be noted.

Partial large-bowel obstruction

Symptoms of large-bowel obstruction develop more slowly because the colon can absorb fluid from its contents and distend well beyond its normal size. Constipation may be the only symptoms for days. Colicky abdominal pain may appear suddenly, producing spasms that last less than 1 minute each and recur every few minutes. Continuous hypogastric pain and nausea may develop, but vomiting is initially absent.

Large-bowel obstruction can cause dramatic abdominal distention: Loops of large bowel may become visible on the abdomen.

Complete large-bowel obstruction

Eventually, a complete large-bowel obstruction may cause fecal vomiting, continuous pain, or localized peritonitis.

Patients with a partial obstruction may display any of the above signs and symptoms in a milder form. Leakage of liquid stools around the obstruction is common with partial obstruction.

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Ulcerative colitis: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

The hallmark of ulcerative colitis is bloody diarrhea. The intensity of these attacks varies with the extent of inflammation. Patients with mild to moderate disease may experience five or fewer bowel movements per day with intermittent bleeding and mucus production. Individuals may experience left lower quadrant pain relieved by defecation, along with fecal urgency and tenesmus. Patients with more severe disease will have more than five bowel movements per day, which may result in anemia, hypovolemia, and impaired nutrition. Extracolonic manifestations also may be present, including erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, episcleritis, thromboembolic events, and arthritis.

Ulcerative colitis may lead to complications affecting the following organs and systems:

❑ Blood: anemia from iron deficiency, coagulation defects due to vitamin K deficiency

❑ Skin: erythema nodosum on the face and arms; pyoderma gangrenosum on the legs and ankles

❑ Eye: uveitis

❑ Liver: pericholangitis, sclerosing cholangitis, cirrhosis, possible cholangiocarcinoma

❑ Musculoskeletal: arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, loss of muscle mass

❑ GI: strictures, pseudopolyps, stenosis, and perforated colon, leading to peritonitis and toxemia.

CLINICAL TIP: The risk of colorectal cancer in patients who have had ulcerative colitis for more than 10 years increases by approximately 1% per year. Also, patients with disease proximal to the sigmoid colon have an increased risk of developing colon carcinomas.