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... Learn more