ABC of colorectal diseases. Investigation of colorectal disorders.

Symptoms of colorectal disorders When investigating a patient for colorectal disorders a detailed history is important and will provide clues to the diagnosis. Symptoms arising from General-Malaise; weight loss;vomiting the large bowel tend to be non-specific and are often difficult to interpret. Abdominal-Pain (constant or colic); There is a wide variation in bowel habit, so alterations from a patient's distension; borborygmi normal bowel pattern, changes in longstanding symptoms, and the passage Bowel habit-Altered frequency; of blood and mucus are ofmost importance. constipation; diarrhoea; taking laxative and olood dimucus are ofiotip tance. antidiarrhoeal drugs; stool consistency; Colorectal disorders are associated with several systemic manfestations bleeding (bright red, mixed in motion, dark, which may hint at the underlying diagnosis. Anaemia is associated with altered); slime (mucus) neoplasia and inflammatory bowel disease; dermatoid cysts with Gardner's Analand perineal-Pruritus; pain and its syndrome; acanthosis nigricans and dermatomyositis with neoplasia; and relation to defecation; prolapse; continence pyoderma gangrenosum, arthropathy, uveitis, and finger clubbing all with and incontinence; discharge; tenesmus; inflammatory bowel disease. swelling (painful or painless)