What condition is characterized by tenesmus, mucoid bloody diarrhea, and cramping abdominal pain?

• A. Crohn disease
• B. Diverticulitis
• C. Pseudomembranous enterocolitis
• D. Ulcerative colitis

Answer: (D)

The condition characterized by tenesmus, mucoid bloody diarrhea, and cramping abdominal pain is ulcerative colitis. This form of inflammatory bowel disease primarily affects the colon and rectum, leading to inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal layer.

Tenesmus refers to the feeling of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement, which is common in ulcerative colitis due to rectal involvement. The characteristic mucoid bloody diarrhea results from the inflammation and ulceration in the colonic mucosa, which can produce mucus and blood. Cramping abdominal pain is also frequently reported, stemming from the spastic contractions of the affected intestinal segments.

In contrast, Crohn disease, while it can also cause abdominal pain and diarrhea, typically presents with a more varied pattern of symptoms, including non-bloody diarrhea and can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Diverticulitis often presents with localized pain and does not commonly include tenesmus or mucoid diarrhea. Pseudomembranous enterocolitis is usually associated with antibiotic use and Clostridium difficile infection, leading to a distinct set of symptoms, including watery diarrhea rather than mucoid bloody stools.

Ulcerative colitis is therefore the most fitting diagnosis given