A nurse is caring for a client. Exhibits For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or Crohn's disease. Each finding may support more than 1 disease process.

Assessment Findings Ulcerative Colitis Diverticulitis Chron’s Disease Anemia ✅ ✅ ✅ Steatorrhea ✅ Diarrhea ✅ ✅ Fever ✅ ✅ ✅ Weight loss ✅ ✅ Rationale: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Anemia – Chronic blood loss from ulcers in the colon can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Diarrhea – Frequent, bloody diarrhea is a hallmark of UC due to colonic inflammation and ulceration. Fever – Systemic inflammation during a flare-up can cause fever. Weight Loss – Nutritional deficits and decreased oral intake during flares contribute to weight loss. Diverticulitis Fever – Infection and inflammation in the diverticula can cause systemic fever. Anemia (Rarely) – If bleeding diverticula are present, anemia can develop, though it is not a common feature. Crohn’s Disease Anemia – Chronic inflammation and malabsorption of iron and vitamin B12 can lead to anemia. Steatorrhea – Fatty, foul-smelling stool occurs due to small bowel involvement and malabsorption. Diarrhea – Chronic, non-bloody diarrhea is common due to intestinal inflammation. Fever – Systemic inflammation during exacerbations can cause fever. Weight Loss – Malabsorption and decreased appetite contribute to significant weight loss.