American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What defines mild Ulcerative Colitis regarding stool frequency?

1. More than 6 stools per day

2. Less than 4 stools per day

3. Intermittent blood in stool

4. Elevated temperature

The correct answer is: Less than 4 stools per day

Mild Ulcerative Colitis is characterized by a relatively low stool frequency, specifically involving fewer than four stools per day. This aligns with the definition of mild disease severity, where the condition does not significantly disrupt the patient's normal activities or cause severe symptoms. Patients typically experience mild intestinal inflammation and may have occasional mild symptoms, such as rectal bleeding or abdominal discomfort, but these symptoms do not escalate to a frequency that significantly impairs daily functioning or results in excessive stool output. In contrast, a situation involving more than six stools per day would indicate a more severe form of the disease, as patients with moderate to severe Ulcerative Colitis typically experience frequent bowel movements. Intermittent blood in the stool can occur in various severities of the disease, but does not define whether the condition is mild on its own. Lastly, an elevated temperature may suggest an active inflammatory process or infection, which would also correlate with more severe disease activity. Thus, the specification of fewer than four stools per day is a critical hallmark that distinguishes mild Ulcerative Colitis from more severe states of this inflammatory bowel disease.