Gastrointestinal Diseases: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Gastrointestinal diseases are health problems that affect the digestive system which includes the stomach, esophagus, small and large intestines, rectum, and the organs that help with digestion like the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.

What are Gastrointestinal Diseases?

Gastrointestinal diseases affect the digestive system right from the mouth to the anus. They come in two types like functional and structural.

Gastrointestinal Disease Symptoms

vomiting
nausea
loss of appetite
fever
muscle aches
headache
dehydration
mucus or blood in the stool
weight loss
abdominal pain
abdominal distension
leg swelling

There are many digestive problems that range from mild to severe. Here are some of the most common gastrointestinal disorders:

Stomach problems: Gastritis, stomach ulcers, gastroenteritis, slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis), stomach cancer and lactose intolerance.

Esophageal problems: Acid reflux (GERD), inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis), narrowing of the esophagus and difficulty swallowing.

Gallstone disease: Gallstones, gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), bile duct infection (cholangitis) and bile duct narrowing.

Rectal disorders: Hemorrhoids, loss of bowel control, anal fissures, infections near the anus, rectal pain, rectal prolapse and inflammation of the rectum (proctitis).

Cancer involving stomach, foodpipe, intestines.

Causes of Gastrointestinal Diseases

The causes of gastrointestinal diseases are as follows:

Stress: Stress and digestive issues are connected. Stress can lead to loss of appetite, stomach pain, inflammation, bloating, cramping and changes in gut bacteria.

A low fiber diet: Fiber which is an indigestible carbohydrate is essential for good digestion. Insoluble fiber helps food pass through the digestive system, promotes bowel movements and prevents constipation.

Dairy foods: People with lactose intolerance cannot fully digest lactose in milk which lead to gas, diarrhea, and bloating after eating dairy. Milk and cheese have proteins and fats that are hard to digest thus eating too much can cause stomach discomfort.

Aging: As people age, factors like reduced activity of digestive glands and medication use affect gut movement which cause reflux, constipation, and other digestive issues. The risk of gastrointestinal cancers also increases with age.

Infections causing food poison.
Obesity
Alcoholism
Genetic Factor
Smoking
Medication including herbal therapies

Different Types of Gastrointestinal Diseases

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): It is a long term condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus that causes heartburn and acid reflux.

Peptic Ulcer Disease: These are open sores that develop in the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus due to H. pylori infection or long term use of pain killer medications.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): These are chronic inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis which cause inflammation and ulcers.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): It is a functional digestive disorder that causes abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits without visible damage or inflammation.

Gastroenteritis: This is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines that occurs usually from viral or bacterial infections and causes diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Celiac Disease: It is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten which causes damage to the small intestine and poor nutrient absorption.

Gallstones: Hard deposits in the gallbladder that are often made of cholesterol or bilirubin causes abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice.

How are Gastrointestinal Diseases Diagnosed?

The doctor will record the patient's medical history and symptoms to diagnose a GI disease. They may also do a physical exam to better understand the problem. The doctor might recommend some diagnostic tests such as:

Stool examination
Fecal occult blood test: This test will look for hidden (occult) blood in the stool
Endoscopic evaluation – upper endoscopy (OGD) and lower endoscopy (colonoscopy)
Scanning – CT scan and MRI evaluation
Blood tests

When Can You See the Doctor?

Adults

Visit your doctor right away if you:

Have a fever more than 104°F (40°C)
Cannot keep liquids down for 24 hours
Have been vomiting for more than 48 hours
Are vomiting blood
Are becoming dehydrated: dry mouth, excessive thirst, little or no urine (or dark yellow urine), lightheadedness, extreme weakness, or
dizziness
Noticed blood in your bowel movements

Children

Visit your pediatrician right away if your child:

Has a fever more than 102°F (39°C)
Is in a lot of discomfort or pain
Appears very tired
Is very irritable
Has bloody diarrhea
Shows signs of dehydration

To check if your child is dehydrated, watch how much they drink and urinate and compare it to their usual amount.

Infants

Take your baby immediately if they:

Have been vomiting (not just normal spitting up) for more than several hours
Have a dry mouth
Did not had a wet diaper in six hours
Cry without tears
Have severe diarrhea
Have bloody stools
Are unresponsive
Are unusually drowsy or sleepy
Have a sunken soft spot on the top of their head

Conclusion

You can visit EMC Hospital as we have a department of The Gastroenterology & Liver unit. We are the best gastroenterology hospital in Kochi. We offer comprehensive and evidence-based treatment for acute digestive system conditions. As the best hospital in Kochi, we treat disorders of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and biliary system, including the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts.