I am 30. Are my abdominal issues due to ulcerative colitis?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 30-year-old male experiencing symptoms of abdominal issues. Over the past few weeks, I have noticed frequent abdominal pain, particularly in the lower left side, persistent diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool, urgency to have bowel movements, and occasional fatigue. These symptoms come and go, but have been more consistent recently. I have no prior diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, but I am concerned about the possibility of ulcerative colitis. Could you provide guidance on this?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

In your case, ulcerative colitis (UC) can be possible because of the presence of the following symptoms,

Bloody and/or mucous diarrhea.
Urgency and tenesmus (the sensation of needing to go immediately).
Left-sided abdominal discomfort (particularly involving the sigmoid or rectum).
Fatigue (due to inflammation or anemia).

UC typically begins in the rectum and progresses upward in a continuous manner, which accounts for the left-sided pain. In your case, the situation can be serious, as you have the following alarming symptoms,

Blood in stool.
Chronic diarrhea (more than two to three weeks).
Nocturnal symptoms.
Fatigue (potential anemia or systemic inflammation).

Because of those symptoms, you might have ulcerative colitis. However, the following tests can only confirm our diagnosis and rule out other issues;

Stool tests and cultures (these tests help eliminate infection).
Fecal calprotectin (very useful as high levels strongly indicate Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
Blood tests
Complete blood count (to check for anemia, inflammation).
Electrolytes, iron studies (if fatigue is significant).
Colonoscopy with biopsies (crucial).

Your doctor must rule out the following conditions, as these can lead to similar complications, too.

Infectious colitis.
Bacterial (Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter).
C. difficile (even in the absence of antibiotic use).
Parasites (especially with travel or exposure).
Variants of inflammatory bowel disease.
Crohn’s disease (often presents with more abdominal pain, weight loss, and skip lesions).
Indeterminate colitis.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), however, does not cause bleeding.

I suggest you consult a doctor as soon as possible. Proper tests can identify the reasons behind your issues, and can help the doctor to start your treatment.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.