Diseases of the Digestive System Principles of Health Science 2012

Appendicitis Acute inflammation of the appendix usually caused by an obstruction and infection

Symptoms: (2) Nausea and vomiting (3) Mild fever (1)Generalized abdominal pain that later localizes at the lower right (2) Nausea and vomiting (3) Mild fever (4) Elevated white blood cell count

If appendix ruptures, infectious material spills out into peritoneal cavity and causes peritonitis, a serious condition

Treatment: Appendectomy- Removal of the appendix

Cholecystitis A. Inflammation of the gallbladder B. Cholelithiasis: gallstones form from crystallized cholesterol, bile salts, and bile pigments

Symptoms: (1)frequently occur after eating fatty foods (2) Indigestion, nausea and vomiting (3) Pain under the rib that radiates to the right shoulder (4) If gallstone blocks bile ducts, gallbladder can rupture and cause peritonitis  

Treatment: (1) Low fat diets   (2) Lithotripsy: shock waves to shatter gallstones (3) Cholecystectomy: surgical removal of gallbladder

Cirrhosis Chronic destruction of liver cells accompanied by the formation of fibrous connective and scar tissue

Causes: Malnutrition associated with alcoholism Hepatitis Bile duct disease Chemical toxins

Symptoms: (1) Vary and become more severe as disease progresses  (2) enlargement of the liver  (3) anemia and nosebleeds (4) indigestion, nausea and vomiting  (5) jaundice or yellow discoloration

(5) ascites or an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity

(6) When liver function fails, disorientation, hallucinations, hepatic coma, and death occur

Treatment: (2) Avoiding alcohol and preventing infections (1) Directed toward preventing further damage to the liver (2) Avoiding alcohol and preventing infections (3) Proper nutrition and vitamin supplements (4) Rest and appropriate exercise are encouraged

Constipation a. Condition that occurs when fecal material remains in the colon too long, causing excessive reabsorption of water b. Feces or stool becomes hard, dry, and difficult to eliminate

Causes: poor bowel habits chronic use of laxatives, causing a “lazy” bowel diets low in fiber certain digestive diseases

Treatment: Usually corrected by a diet high in fiber, adequate fluids, and exercise (1) At times, laxatives used to stimulate defecation (2) Frequent use of laxatives may be habit forming and lead to chronic constipation

Diarrhea Condition characterized by frequent watery stools

Causes: Infections Stress Diet An irritated colon Toxic substances

Extremely dangerous in infants and small children due to the excessive loss of fluids

Treatment: (1) Eliminate the cause (2) Provide adequate fluid intake (3) Modify the diet

Diverticulitis (1) Inflammation of diverticula, pouches or sacs that form in the intestine as the mucosal lining pushes through the surrounding muscle (2) When fecal material and bacteria become trapped in diverticula, inflammation occurs (3) Can cause an abscess or rupture leading to peritonitis

Symptoms: (2) Abdominal pain (1) Vary depending on the amount of inflammation (2) Abdominal pain (3) Irregular bowel movements and flatus (gas) (4) Constipation or diarrhea (5) Abdominal distention (swelling) (6) Low-grade fever (7) Nausea and vomiting

Treatment: (1) Antibiotics, stool softening and pain medications (2) Surgery to remove the affected section of colon

Gastroenteritis Inflammation of mucous membrane lining the stomach and intestinal tract

Causes: food poisoning Infections toxins

Symptoms: abdominal cramping nausea vomiting fever diarrhea

Treatment: (1) Usually rest and increased fluid intake (2) In severe cases, antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and medications to slow peristalsis may be used

Hemorrhoids Painful, dilated or varicose veins of rectum and/or anus

Causes: (1) Straining to defecate or constipation (2) Pressure during pregnancy (3) Insufficient fluid intake (4) Abuse of laxatives (5) Prolonged sitting or standing

Symptoms: Pain Itching Bleeding

Treatment: (1) High fiber diet and increased fluid intake (2) Stool softeners (3) Sitz baths or warm moist compresses (4) Hemorrhoidectomy in severe cases

Hepatitis Viral inflammation of the liver

Type A (HAV) or infectious hepatitis (a) Highly contagious (b) Transmitted in food or water that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person (c) Vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis A

Type B (HBV) or serum hepatitis (a) Transmitted by blood and serum (b) More serious than type A and can lead to chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver (c) Hepatitis B vaccine recommended for all health workers

Other strains of hepatitis include Types C, D, and E

Symptoms: Fever Anorexia Nausea Vomiting Fatigue Dark colored urine Clay-colored stool Enlarged liver Jaundice

Treatment: (1) Rest (2) Diet high in protein and calories and low in fat (3) Liver transplant may be necessary if liver is severely damaged

Hernia or rupture Occurs when an internal organ pushes through a weakened area or natural opening in a body wall

Hiatal Hernia: Stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity through the opening for the esophagus

Symptoms: heartburn distention of the stomach chest pain difficulty in swallowing

Treatment: bland diet small, frequent meals not lying down after eating surgical repair

Inguinal hernia: Section of the small intestine protrudes through the inguinal rings of the lower abdominal wall

Treatment: If the hernia cannot be reduced, or pushed back in place, a herniorrhapy, or surgical repair, is done

Pancreatitis Inflammation of the pancreas in which pancreatic enzymes begin to digest the pancreas

Pancreas becomes necrotic, inflamed, and edematous

If damage extends to blood vessels in the pancreas, hemorrhage and shock occur

Causes: (2) Blockage of pancreatic ducts by gall stones (1) Excessive alcohol consumption (2) Blockage of pancreatic ducts by gall stones (3) Many cases are idiopathic, or of unknown cause

Symptoms: Severe abdominal pain that radiates to the back Nausea Vomiting diaphoresis (excessive perspiration) Jaundice if swelling blocks the common bile duct

Treatment: Treatment depends on the cause (1) Cholecystectomy if gallstones are the cause (2) Analgesics for pain (3) Nutritional support if the cause is alcoholism or idiopathic (4) Pancreatitis caused by alcoholism has a poor prognosis and often results in death

Peritonitis Inflammation of the abdominal peritoneal cavity (1) Usually occurs when a rupture in the intestine allows fecal contents to enter this cavity (2) Ruptured appendix or gallbladder are causes

Symptoms: Abdominal pain and distention Fever Nausea Vomiting

Treatment: antibiotics and surgical repair

Ulcer Open sore on the lining of the digestive tract Peptic ulcers include gastric (stomach) ulcers and duodenal ulcers

Causes: Major cause is Heliobacter pylori (H. pylori) (1) Bacterium that burrows into stomach membranes (2) Allows stomach acids and digestive juices to create an ulcer

Symptoms: burning pain indigestion hematemesis (bloody vomitus) melena (dark, tarry stool)

Treatment: (2) Decreasing stress (1) Antacids and bland diet (2) Decreasing stress (3) Avoiding irritants such as alcohol, fried food, tobacco, and caffeine (4) If H. pylori bacteria present, treatment with antibiotics and a bismuth preparation, such as Pepto-Bismol, usually cures condition (5) In severe cases, surgery to remove the affected area (6) Antibiotics to kill bacteria that can cause ulcers

Ulcerative Colitis Severe inflammation of the colon with the formation of ulcers and abscesses Thought to be caused by stress, allergic reactions to food, or an autoimmune reaction

Symptoms: (1) Main one is diarrhea with blood, pus, and mucus (2) Others are weight loss, weakness, abdominal pain, anemia, and anorexia (3) Periods of remission and exacerbation are common

Treatment: (1) Directed toward controlling inflammation (2) Reduce stress with mild sedation (3) Maintain proper nutrition (4) Avoid substances that aggravate the condition

(5) In some cases, surgical removal of affected colon aa. Creation of a colostomy bb. Artificial opening in colon to allow fecal material to be excreted through abdominal wall