- Environmentally triggered
- Affects colonic mucosa, distal to prox
- Northen Europeans, North Americans
- Smoking and appendectomy protective
- Peak onset 15-30
- Recurrent or chronic diarrhea
- Sub-acute fatigue
- Bloody stools, mucous
- Cramps, constipation
- Nocturnal diarrhea
- Feeling poorly overall, w/spectrum of symptoms from mild to severe
- Extra-GI: oral ulcers, joint pain/swelling, skin findings, low back pain, eye pain/vision problems, hepato-biliary sx (primary sclerosing cholangitis)
- DVT: risk markedly increased w/IBD flair, immobility and/or hospitalization
- Abdominal pain on palpation
- Blood w/stool on rectal
- Distention and severe illness if toxic megacolon
- Extra-Colonic: aphtous ulcers, erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosa, peripheral arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis/sacroiliitis, jaundice/RUQ pain, eye sx→ episcleritis/scleritis/uveitis