NCLEX-Style Practice Questions: Ulcerative Colitis Questions With 100% Correct Answers (2024 / 2025) (Verified by Experts)

15. Which of the following factors is believed to cause ulcerative colitis? 1. Acidic diet 2. Altered immunity 3. Chronic constipation 4. Emotional stress - ANSWER 15. Answer: 2. Altered immunity Several theories exist regarding the cause of ulcerative colitis. One suggests altered immunity as the cause based on the extraintestinal characteristics of the disease, such as peripheral arthritis and cholangitis. Diet and constipation have no effect on the development of ulcerative colitis. Emotional stress can exacerbate the attacks but isn't believed to be the primary cause. 16. Fistulas are most common with which of the following bowel disorders? 1. Crohn's disease 2. Diverticulitis 3. Diverticulosis 4. Ulcerative colitis - ANSWER 16. Answer: 1. Crohn's disease The lesions of Crohn's disease are transmural; that is, they involve all thickness of the bowel. These lesions may perforate the bowel wall, forming fistulas with adjacent structures. Fistulas don't develop in diverticulitis or diverticulosis. The ulcers that occur in the submucosal and mucosal layers of the intestine in ulcerative colitis usually don't progress to fistula formation as in Crohn's disease. 18. Which of the following associated disorders may a client with ulcerative colitis exhibit? 1. Gallstones 2. Hydronephrosis 3. Nephrolithiasis 4. Toxic megacolon - ANSWER 18. Answer: 4. Toxic megacolon Toxic megacolon is extreme dilation of a segment of the diseased colon caused by paralysis of the colon, resulting in complete obstruction. This disorder is associated with both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The other disorders are more commonly associated with Crohn's disease.