Mr. Taylor seeks medical treatment for frequent, urgent bowel movements streaked with mucus and blood, and tests reveal a large, continuous area of inflammation affecting the first two layers of tissue in his rectum. What is Mr. Taylor's likely diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mr. Taylor's symptoms and test results suggest ulcerative colitis, which is characterized by inflammation of the colon and rectum, often with bloody diarrhea and mucous. Unlike Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the digestive tract and is characterized by inflammation that can extend through all layers of the intestinal wall, ulcerative colitis typically only affects the innermost layer of the colon and rectum. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine in response to gluten consumption, while irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder that affects bowel movements but does not involve inflammation. Fistulas are abnormal connections between organs or tissues, and while they can occur in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, they are not typically the primary feature of these conditions.

Mr Taylor Seeks Medical Treatment for Frequent, Urgent Bowel Movements