Which symptom best indicates large bowel diarrhea?

Which symptom best indicates large bowel diarrhea?

• A. Tenesmus
• B. Large volume with weight loss
• C. Steatorrhea
• D. Vomiting

Answer: (A)

Tenesmus reflects irritation and involvement of the distal colon/rectum, producing an urgent, frequent need to defecate with little or no stool passed. This pattern—urge and straining with small or reduced stool passage—is characteristic of large-bowel (colonic) diarrhea, where the colon is the main source of symptoms. By contrast, small-bowel diarrhea tends to cause large-volume stools with weight loss or fat in the stool (steatorrhea), and vomiting is not a distinguishing feature of diarrhea location. So tenesmus best indicates large bowel diarrhea.

Tenesmus reflects irritation and involvement of the distal colon/rectum, producing an urgent, frequent need to defecate with little or no stool passed. This pattern—urge and straining with small or reduced stool passage—is characteristic of large-bowel (colonic) diarrhea, where the colon is the main source of symptoms. By contrast, small-bowel diarrhea tends to cause large-volume stools with weight loss or fat in the stool (steatorrhea), and vomiting is not a distinguishing feature of diarrhea location. So tenesmus best indicates large bowel diarrhea.