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Ulcerative colitis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis

Symptoms:

Abdominal pain and cramping that usually disappears after a bowel movement
Abdominal sounds (a gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine)
Diarrhea, from only a few episodes to very often throughout the day (blood and mucus may be present)
Fever
Tenesmus
Weight loss

Other symptoms that may occur with ulcerative colitis include the following:

Signs and tests:

Barium enema
Colonoscopy with biopsy

Your doctor may also order the following blood tests:

Complete blood count (CBC)
C-reactive protein (CRP)
Sedimentation rate (ESR)

Colonoscopy

Digestive system

Ulcerative colitis

Reviewed last on: 2/20/2008
Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Graham L. AGA reviews the use of corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and infliximab in IBD. Am Fam Physician. 2007;75:410-412.

Moyer MS. Chronic ulcerative colitis in childhood. J Pediatr. 2006;148:325.

Langan RC. Ulcerative colitis: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76:1323-1330.

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