Diseases of the Digestive System

Principles of Health Science 2012

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

Appendicitis

(1)Generalized abdominal

pain that later localizes at the lower right

(2) Nausea and vomiting (3) Mild fever (4) Elevated white blood

cell count

Symptoms:

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

Appendectomy- Removal of the appendix

Treatment:

A. Inflammation of the

gallbladder B. Cholelithiasis:

gallstones form from crystallized cholesterol, bile salts, and bile pigments

Cholecystitis

(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

   

Symptoms:

(1) Low fat diets  (2) Lithotripsy: shock waves

to shatter gallstones  (3) Cholecystectomy: surgical

removal of gallbladder

Treatment:

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

Cirrhosis

Malnutrition associated with alcoholism

Hepatitis Bile duct disease Chemical toxins

Causes:

(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

Symptoms:

(5) ascites or an accumulation of fluid in the

abdominal cavity

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

(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

Treatment:

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

Constipatio

n

poor bowel habits chronic use of laxatives,

causing a “lazy” bowel diets low in fiber certain digestive diseases

Causes:

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

Treatment:

Condition characterized by frequent watery stools

Diarrhea

Infections Stress Diet An irritated colon Toxic substances

Causes:

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

(1) Eliminate the cause

(2) Provide adequate fluid intake

(3) Modify the diet

Treatment:

(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

Diverticulitis

(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

Symptoms:

(1) Antibiotics, stool softening and pain medications

(2) Surgery to remove the affected section of colon

Treatment:

Inflammation of mucous membrane lining the stomach and intestinal tract

Gastroenteritis

food poisoning

Infections toxins

Causes:

abdominal

cramping nausea vomiting fever diarrhea

Symptoms:

(1) Usually rest and

increased fluid intake (2) In severe cases,

antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and medications to slow peristalsis may be used

Treatment:

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

Hemorrhoids

(1) Straining to defecate or

constipation (2) Pressure during pregnancy (3) Insufficient fluid intake (4) Abuse of laxatives (5) Prolonged sitting or

standing

Causes:

Pain ItchingBleeding

Symptoms:

(1) High fiber diet and

increased fluid intake

(2) Stool softeners (3) Sitz baths or warm

moist compresses (4) Hemorrhoidectomy

in severe cases

Treatment:

Viral inflammation of the liver

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 A (HAV) or infectious 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

Type B (HBV) or serum hepatitis

Other strains of hepatitis include Types

C, D, and E

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

Symptoms:

(1) Rest (2) Diet high in protein and

calories and low in fat (3) Liver transplant may be

necessary if liver is severely damaged

Treatment:

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

Hernia or rupture

Stomach

protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity through the opening for the esophagus

Hiatal Hernia:

heartburn distention of the stomach

chest pain difficulty in swallowing

Symptoms:

bland diet small, frequent meals not lying down after eating

surgical repair

Treatment:

Section of the

small intestine protrudes through the inguinal rings of the lower abdominal wall

Inguinal hernia:

If the hernia cannot be

reduced, or pushed back in place, a herniorrhapy, or surgical repair, is done

Treatment:

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

Pancreatitis

Pancreas becomes necrotic, inflamed, and

edematous

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

(1) Excessive alcohol

consumption (2) Blockage of

pancreatic ducts by gall stones

(3) Many cases are idiopathic, or of unknown cause

Causes:

Severe abdominal pain that

radiates to the back Nausea Vomiting diaphoresis (excessive

perspiration) Jaundice if swelling blocks the

common bile duct

Symptoms:

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

Treatment:

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

Peritonitis

http://www.pathology.vcu.edu/education/dental2/images/sc3-1.jpg

Abdominal pain and distention

Fever Nausea Vomiting

Symptoms:

antibiotics and surgical repair

Treatment:

Open sore on the lining of the digestive tract

Peptic ulcers include gastric (stomach) ulcers and duodenal ulcers

Ulcer

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

Causes:

burning pain indigestion hematemesis (bloody

vomitus) melena (dark, tarry

stool)

Symptoms:

(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

Treatment:

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

Ulcerative Colitis

(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

Symptoms:

(1) Directed toward

controlling inflammation (2) Reduce stress with

mild sedation (3) Maintain proper

nutrition (4) Avoid substances that

aggravate the condition

Treatment:

(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