GI Disorders

Anorexia

Loss of appetite or lack of desire to eat, which can be caused by various medical conditions or psychological factors.

Emesis

The act of vomiting, where stomach contents are forcefully expelled through the mouth.

Hematemesis

Vomiting of blood, which may appear bright red or have a coffee-ground appearance due to partial digestion by stomach acid.

Hyperbilirubinemia

An excessive level of bilirubin (a yellow pigment produced by the breakdown of red blood cells) in the blood, often leading to jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

Pruritus

Severe itching of the skin, which can result from various conditions, including liver disease, allergies, or infections.

Splenomegaly

Enlargement of the spleen, which can be caused by infections, liver disease, blood disorders, or cancer.

Varices

Abnormally enlarged veins, often referring to esophageal varices (enlarged veins in the esophagus) or gastric varices (in the stomach), which can rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding, typically due to liver disease and portal hypertension.

Dysphagia

Etiology: Neuromuscular (Parkinson’s, stroke), structural (esophageal cancer, strictures).

Pathogenesis: Impaired swallowing due to esophageal narrowing, weak muscles, or neural disruption.

Manifestations: Difficulty swallowing, choking, coughing, aspiration risk.

Hiatal Hernia

Etiology: Aging, increased intra-abdominal pressure (coughing, vomiting, pregnancy, obesity).

Pathogenesis: Stomach herniates through diaphragm.

Manifestations: Small hernias are asymptomatic; larger ones cause GERD-like symptoms (heartburn, belching, dysphagia).

GERD

Etiology: Weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Pathogenesis: Acid reflux damages esophageal mucosa.

Manifestations: Heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, chest pain.

Barrett's Esophagus

Etiology: Chronic GERD.

Pathogenesis: Squamous epithelium changes to columnar (metaplasia), increasing esophageal cancer risk.

Manifestations: Often asymptomatic but linked to GERD symptoms.

Acute Gastritis

Etiology: NSAIDs, alcohol, H. pylori, stress.

Pathogenesis: Gastric mucosa inflammation.

Manifestations: Indigestion, bloating, nausea, vomiting, anorexia.

Chronic Gastritis

Etiology: H. pylori infection, NSAIDs, alcohol, smoking.

Pathogenesis: Long-term inflammation leads to mucosal atrophy and metaplasia.

Manifestations: Indigestion, weight loss, risk of ulcers and stomach cancer.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Etiology: H. pylori, chronic NSAID use, stress.

Pathogenesis: Stomach acid damages the mucosa, forming ulcers.

Manifestations: Gnawing pain, melena (black stool), hematemesis (vomiting blood).

IBS

Etiology: Unknown, possibly stress-related.

Pathogenesis: Neuro-gastrointestinal disorder affecting bowel function.

Manifestations: Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, relief after defecation.

Ulcerative Colitis

Etiology: Idiopathic autoimmune condition.

Pathogenesis: Chronic inflammation of colonic mucosa, starting in the rectum.

Manifestations: Bloody diarrhea, urgency, abdominal cramps.

Crohn Disease

Etiology: Idiopathic, autoimmune.

Pathogenesis: Chronic granulomatous inflammation with “skip lesions.”

Manifestations: Diarrhea, malabsorption, weight loss, fistulas, strictures.

Diverticulosis

Etiology: Low-fiber diet, increased colonic pressure.

Pathogenesis: Formation of small pouches in the colon.

Manifestations: Lower left abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting.

Diverticulitis

Etiology: Low-fiber diet, increased colonic pressure.

Pathogenesis: Inflammation/infection of these pouches.

Manifestations: Lower left abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting.

Appendicitis

Etiology: Obstruction (stool, tumor, parasites).

Pathogenesis: Inflammation and infection of the appendix.

Manifestations: Periumbilical pain migrating to RLQ, nausea, rebound tenderness.

Jaundice

Etiology: Liver disease, hemolysis, bile duct obstruction.

Pathogenesis: Hyperbilirubinemia leads to yellow pigmentation.

Manifestations: Yellow skin/sclera, pruritus, dark urine, clay-colored stool.

Hepatitis A

Etiology: Viral infection, Fecal-oral route.

Pathogenesis: Liver inflammation, reduced function.

Manifestations: Flu-like symptoms, hepatomegaly, jaundice, dark urine. Hep C often asymptomatic.

Hepatitis B

Etiology: Viral infection, Blood, semen, vaginal fluids.

Pathogenesis: Liver inflammation, reduced function.

Manifestations: Flu-like symptoms, hepatomegaly, jaundice, dark urine. Hep C often asymptomatic.

Hepatitis C

Etiology: Viral infection, Bloodborne.

Pathogenesis: Liver inflammation, reduced function.

Manifestations: Flu-like symptoms, hepatomegaly, jaundice, dark urine. Hep C often asymptomatic.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver (Steatosis)

Etiology: Alcohol-induced fat accumulation in hepatocytes.

Pathogenesis: Acetaldehyde toxicity impairs fatty acid metabolism.

Manifestations: Usually asymptomatic.

Alcoholic Hepatitis

Etiology: Chronic alcohol use.

Pathogenesis: Liver cell necrosis and inflammation.

Manifestations: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, low-grade fever, fatigue.

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Etiology: End-stage alcoholic liver disease.

Pathogenesis: Irreversible liver damage due to acetaldehyde buildup.

Manifestations: Jaundice, ascites, weight loss, dark urine.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Etiology: Obesity, metabolic syndrome.

Pathogenesis: Fat accumulation, progressing to steatohepatitis and fibrosis.

Manifestations: Early asymptomatic; later includes jaundice, fatigue, cirrhosis.

Portal Hypertension

Etiology: Cirrhosis.

Pathogenesis: Increased pressure in the portal vein.

Manifestations: Ascites, splenomegaly, esophageal varices, caput medusa.

Ascites

Etiology: Cirrhosis, portal hypertension.

Pathogenesis: Fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity.

Manifestations: Abdominal distension, weight gain, difficulty breathing.

Cholelithiasis

Etiology: High cholesterol, obesity, pregnancy, Native American ancestry.

Pathogenesis: Bile components form stones.

Manifestations: RUQ pain, nausea, worsens at night.

Cholecystitis

Etiology: Gallstone obstruction of the cystic duct.

Pathogenesis: Inflammation of the gallbladder.

Manifestations: Severe RUQ pain, fever, nausea, vomiting.

Pancreatitis

Etiology: Alcohol, gallstones.

Pathogenesis: Premature enzyme activation leads to autodigestion.

Manifestations: Upper abdominal pain radiating to back, worsened by eating, nausea, vomiting, fever.