An intestinal fistula is an abnormal passage between the bowel and another organ or the skin, allowing digestive fluid, food residue, or stool to leak, producing a spectrum of clinical manifestations. The most common symptom is abdominal pain, usually persistent or colicky, located in the segment where the fistula arises. Diarrhea is frequent, with watery or pasty stools caused by loss of digestive fluid and reduced absorptive surface. Fever indicates accompanying infection, presenting as remittent or sustained high temperature, often with chills. Rapid weight loss with fatigue and poor appetite results from malabsorption and hyper-catabolism. When the tract opens into... Learn more