Which condition typically presents with symptoms of constipation, nausea/vomiting, and leukocytosis?

Bowel obstruction typically presents with a combination of symptoms that can include constipation, nausea and vomiting, and leukocytosis. In the context of a bowel obstruction, the normal passage of stool is hindered, leading to constipation. As the obstruction persists, the buildup can result in abdominal pain and distension, triggering nausea and potentially vomiting due to pressure on the gastrointestinal tract.

Leukocytosis, which is an increase in white blood cell count, often accompanies bowel obstruction as a response to the stress and potential complications like inflammation or infection related to the obstruction. This combination of symptoms is particularly indicative of a bowel obstruction rather than other gastrointestinal conditions.

While diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis can also cause similar symptoms like nausea and leukocytosis, they typically come with additional specific features, such as localized abdominal pain in diverticulitis and bloody diarrhea in ulcerative colitis. Irritable bowel syndrome, on the other hand, usually does not lead to leukocytosis and is primarily characterized by abdominal pain associated with changes in bowel habits without the acute presentation seen in bowel obstruction.