Question

A 24- year old female was admitted to the hospital complaining of having a repeated episode of severe abdominal pain with bloody diarrhea up to 20 times/day for the passed 2 days.

* I thought Acute Diarrhea but my professor says that is incorrect.

1. What are some investigations that you would ask to be done?
2. What could be the diagnosis?
3. What causes the diagnosis that you have picked?
4. How would you treat this acute case?
5. Is there a way to prevent this episode from happening again?

Answer 1

Because of the presence of bloody diarrhea and severe frequent diarrhea blood test should be done. In blood test monitor for anemia because of blood loss, electrolyte level should be monitored.

Stool sample collect and analyse

CT scan and X ray

Colonoscopy to visualize the intestinal region

The possible diagnosis of the patient may be inflammatory bowel disease more specifically ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is the long lasting inflammation and ulcer formation in the digestive tract. Due to the presence of ulcer in the tract blood mix with the feces and diarrhea also present. Urgency in defecation occur due to the incomplete defecation.

Acute management include dietary supplement, fluid replacement. Medications such as antibiotics, analgesics, steroids and immunosupressants are used to treat the condition.

There is also surgical management for ulcerative colitis