A constellation of irritability of colon mucous membrane, cramps, lower abdominal pain, distention, gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation or both, mucus in stools, nausea, fatigue indicates which condition?

• A. IBS
• B. Crohn's disease
• C. Ulcerative colitis
• D. Celiac disease

Answer: (A)

Recognizing irritable bowel syndrome as a functional bowel disorder is what this item assesses. IBS presents with chronic abdominal pain or cramps that are linked to changes in bowel habits, which can be diarrhea, constipation, or both. The described mix of cramps, lower abdominal pain, distention, gas, bloating, and the ability to have either diarrhea or constipation (sometimes alternating) with mucus in the stool fits this pattern. Fatigue is also a common accompanying feature.

What sets IBS apart from the inflammatory bowel diseases is that IBS involves no structural or mucosal inflammation; the colon may feel irritable but tests typically don’t show active inflammation. Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis involve true mucosal inflammation and often present with additional red flags such as blood in stool, weight loss, or systemic symptoms, and they usually show changes on endoscopy. Celiac disease tends to cause malabsorption and weight loss with gluten-related symptoms rather than a primary pattern of alternating bowel habits with mucus.