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Recurrent abdominal pain, change in frequency, stool form, related to defecation

A) Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
B) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
C) Diverticulitis
D) Colorectal cancer

User TreDubZedd
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The described condition with symptoms of recurrent abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits related to defecation is most indicative of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), not Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Diverticulitis, or Colorectal Cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The condition characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, change in frequency or form of stool, and pain that is related to defecation is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder with symptoms that include the ones described in the question. It should not be confused with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which refers to disorders like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis where the immune system attacks parts of the GI tract. Unlike IBS, IBD can cause intestinal damage and more severe complications.

Diverticulitis, meanwhile, involves infection and inflammation of diverticula in the large intestine, but is typically associated with more acute, sudden-onset lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation.

Colorectal cancer may also present with changes in bowel habits and abdominal pain, but it often includes symptoms like rectal bleeding and is associated with growths called polyps within the colon.

User Armaan Stranger
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