Signs, Symptoms and etiology of common diseases, conditions, and injuries: GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM

Appendicitis

Symptoms: pain in the lower, right abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling, fever

Etiology: Inflammation of the appendix due to blockage of opening to the appendix, leading to rapidly multiplying bacteria in the appendix

Diagnosis: Patient hx, blood and urine tests, imaging TX involves surgical removal of the appendix

Celiac Disease

Symptoms: Anemia, diarrhea, gas, bloating, weight loss, fatigue

Etiology: Immune response triggered by gluten leading to damage of the small intestine and an inability to absorb nutrients

Diagnosis: Physical, medical hx, blood tests, antibody tests, and endoscopy with biopsy TX involves avoiding gluten in any form

Colorectal Cancer

Symptoms: E early stages have no symptoms. Later stages symptoms are non specific but can include fatigue, irregular bowel movements, blood in feces, cramps, bloating, and weight loss

Etiology: Cancer of the colon, risk factors are a high-fat diet, family hx, and inflammatory bowel disease

Diagnosis: colonoscopy or barium enema TX involves for early stages is surgical removal of cancer cells and advanced stages are chemotherapy

Diverticulosis

Symptoms: asymptomatic unless inflamed. When inflamed it is termed diverticulitis: pain in the left lower abdomen, fever, chills, and nausea, and vomiting

Etiology: pouch-like herniations through the muscular wall of the colon caused by high pressure in it pressing against weak areas of the colon wall

Diagnosis: Typically discovered through colonoscopy TX involves when inflamed antibiotics are used for treatment

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Symptoms: Heartburn, nausea after eating, difficulty swallowing.

Etiology: Lower esophageal sphincter muscle dysfunction leading to stomach contents leaking back up the esophagus

Diagnosis: Upper endoscopy, tests to measure the amount of acid in the esophagus