Question

The nurse is questioning a client with Crohn disease about the presence of current symptoms. Which symptoms would the nurse find in the client?

1) Persistent diarrhea
2) Fissures, ulcers, fistulas, and abscesses of the anorectal area
3) Malaise
4) Left lower quadrant abdominal pain relieved by defecation
5) Blood in the stool

Answer 1

In clients with Crohn's disease, the nurse can expect to find symptoms such as persistent diarrhea, anorectal fissures, ulcers, fistulas, abscesses, malaise, and occasionally blood in the stool. These are characteristic symptoms of Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the GI tract.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse questioning a client with Crohn's disease would find several symptoms indicative of the condition. These symptoms include:

1. Persistent diarrhea: This is a common symptom of Crohn's disease, often severe and accompanied by blood.
2. Fissures, ulcers, fistulas, and abscesses of the anorectal area: These can occur due to the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which is a characteristic of Crohn's disease.
3. Malaise: A general feeling of discomfort or uneasiness that is often an indication of the disease's activity in the body.
4. Blood in the stool: While this can occur in Crohn's disease, it is a prominent symptom in ulcerative colitis, another type of inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are both part of the same broader condition known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Unlike Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the GI tract, ulcerative colitis primarily affects the colon and rectum. Left lower quadrant abdominal pain relieved by defecation could be more indicative of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis rather than Crohn's disease. Most patients with Crohn's disease will be treated with a combination of medication, dietary changes, and sometimes surgery to manage symptoms and maintain remission.