Severity of inflammatory bowel disease
The features classification listed has been designed to assess the severity of ulcerative colitis. However it may also be used as a general guide in assessing the severity of Crohn's disease.
Mild - features include bowel motions < 4/d, little or no rectal bleeding, no signs of systemic disturbance e.g. fever, tachycardia, raised ESR, anaemia
Moderate - 4-6 liquid bowel motions per day, moderate rectal bleeding, signs of systemic disturbance (e.g. fever, tachycardia)
Severe - more than 6 liquid bowel motions per day, severe rectal bleeding, fever, tachycardia, abdominal tenderness, raised ESR, signs of malnutrition such as hypoalbuminaemia, weight loss in excess of 10% of pre-morbid weight
Reference:
- NICE. Ulcerative colitis: management. NICE guideline NG130. Published May 2019, reviewed February 2025
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