The ulcerative colitis client should be assessed by the health care provider for which of the following clinical manifestations? Select all that apply

Question

A) Persistent diarrhea
B) Steatorrhea
C) Stool containing blood (hematochezia)
D) External hemorrhoids
E) Prolapsed colon

Answer 1

Ans: A, C
Feedback:
Unlike Crohn disease, which can affect various sites in the gastrointestinal tract, ulcerative colitis is confined to the rectum and colon. Ulcerative colitis typically presents as a relapsing disorder marked by attacks of diarrhea. The diarrhea may persist for days, weeks, or months and then subside, only to recur after an asymptomatic interval of several months to years or even decades. Because ulcerative colitis affects the mucosal layer of the bowel, the stools typically contain blood and mucus. Nutritional deficiencies are common in Crohn disease because of diarrhea, steatorrhea (fatty stools), and other malabsorption problems. Crohn disease causes granulomatous changes, often referred to as skip lesions because they are interspersed between what appear to be normal segments of the bowel. External hemorrhoids and prolapsed colon are not associated with ulcerative colitis.