Symptoms of ColitisColitis refers to inflammation of the colon, which may be triggered by infection, ischemia, autoimmune reactions, or inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical presentation varies by cause and extent of inflammation, but several core symptoms are frequently observed.

Patients typically report cramping abdominal pain, most often localized to the lower quadrants. Diarrhea is nearly universal: stools may be watery, contain mucus, or be overtly bloody; frequency can range from a few episodes to more than twenty per day. Urgency and tenesmus are common, and nocturnal bowel movements frequently disrupt sleep. Rectal bleeding, sometimes occult, can lead to fatigue, pallor, and iron-deficiency anemia. Weight loss, low-grade fever, and anorexia develop when inflammation is extensive or persistent. Extraintestinal manifestations—such as joint pain, mouth ulcers, or skin lesions—may accompany active disease .

Major Symptom Groups	Typical Features
Pain & Cramping	Lower abdominal cramps, often preceding defecation
Diarrhea	Loose, mucoid, bloody stools; frequency ↑; nocturnal episodes
Rectal Complaints	Urgency, tenesmus, visible bleeding
Systemic Signs	Fatigue, low-grade fever, unintended weight loss
Complications	Anemia, dehydration, extraintestinal joint/skin/eye involvement

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