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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
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