ulcerative colitis

pathophysiology

non-specific inflammatory condition, tends to be continuous and not skip over areas of the intestine

cause

unknown

manifestations/ symptoms

diarrhea

blood and mucous in the stool

nocturnal diarrhea

mild form

<4 stools per day with or without blood no systemic signs of toxicity and normal erythrocyte rate (ESR)

moderate form

4+ stools per day, minimal signs of toxicity

severe form

6+ bloody stools per day and evidence of toxicity (tachycardia, anemia, elevated ESR

fulminant disease

10+ stools per day, continuous bleeding, fever, abdominal tenderness and distention

diagnostics/labs

sigmoidoscopy

coloscopy

stool examinations

biopsy

complications

bowel perforations

infectious enterocolitis

viral infection

rotavirus

bacterial infection

C. diff

E. coli

protozoan infections

Entamoeba hystolytica

diverticular disease

outpouching of a hallow structures in the body

appendicitis

diarrhea

acute diarrhea

chronic diarrhea

persists less than 2 weeks

noninflammatory diarrhea- large volume watery non-bloody stools- associated with e. coli

inflammatory diarrhea- presence of fever and bloody diarrhea (dysentery)

lasts more than 4 weeks

osmotic diarrhea- water is pulled into the bowel by the hyperosmotic nature of the bowel

secretory diarrhea- excess bile acids, excess secretory processes in the bowel

fluid and electrolyte monitoring

constipation

fecal impaction

intestinal obstruction

intussusception

peritonitis

collaborative treatment

preventing the extension of the inflammatory response

intravenously correcting the fluid and electrolytes

minimizing paralytic ileus and abdominal distention

surgical interventions

nasogastric suction to decompress the bowel and relieve abdominal distention

risk factors

young age- <30

family predisposition

Jewish descent