Final answer:
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects the colon and rectum, causing inflammation and ulcers. Symptoms include lower abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and fever. Screening for colon cancer is recommended due to increased risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
Continuous inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involving the rectum is most commonly seen in a specific type of IBD called ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory condition that primarily affects the colon and rectum, causing inflammation and ulcers. Unlike Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, ulcerative colitis mainly affects the colon and rectum. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include lower abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, fever, and anemia. People with ulcerative colitis are at an increased risk of developing colon cancer and should be screened more frequently for this condition. While ulcerative colitis can have a significant impact on quality of life, with proper management and treatment, individuals can still lead full and productive lives.