Symptoms and signs of lower gastrointestinal disease

Symptoms of lower gastrointestinal (GI) disease are common and frequently trigger consultation in primary and secondary care. Diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation are presentations of a wide range of different underlying pathologies, from chronic, benign, functional conditions to acutely life-threatening emergencies. Lower GI bleeding is often due to serious pathology and requires rational investigation based on a systematic clinical assessment. Extra-intestinal manifestations of lower GI disease can often give a clue to the underlying diagnosis. In this contribution, we review the aetiology, clinical features, investigations and management for a range of lower GI symptoms, namely diarrhoea, constipation, lower GI bleeding, bloating and abdominal pain.