digestive, immune, and respiratory diseases

GERD - Cause

Lower esophageal sphincter relaxation allowing stomach acid backflow.

GERD - Symptoms

Heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing.

GERD - Diagnosis

Endoscopy, pH monitoring, or esophageal manometry.

GERD - Treatment

Lifestyle changes, antacids, H2 blockers, PPIs, or surgery.

Crohn disease - Cause

Immune system abnormally attacks the digestive tract, causing chronic inflammation.

Crohn disease - Symptoms

Abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition.

Crohn disease - Diagnosis

Colonoscopy, imaging scans (CT/MRI), and blood/stool tests.

Crohn disease - Treatment

Anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, biologics, and surgery.

Ulcerative colitis - Cause

Immune system malfunction causing chronic inflammation and ulcers in the colon.

Ulcerative colitis - Symptoms

Bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, rectal pain, and urgency to defecate.

Ulcerative colitis - Diagnosis

Colonoscopy with biopsy, stool tests, and imaging.

Ulcerative colitis - Treatment

Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and colectomy.

Celiac disease - Cause

Autoimmune reaction to ingested gluten damaging the small intestine.

Celiac disease - Symptoms

Chronic diarrhea, abdominal bloating, gas, fatigue, and weight loss.

Celiac disease - Diagnosis

Serology blood tests and duodenal biopsy via endoscopy.

Celiac disease - Treatment

Strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.

Peptic ulcers - Cause

Helicobacter pylori infection or prolonged use of NSAIDs.

Peptic ulcers - Symptoms

Burning stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, and nausea.

Peptic ulcers - Diagnosis

Upper endoscopy or breath/stool tests for H. pylori.

Peptic ulcers - Treatment

Antibiotics for H. pylori, PPIs, and acid blockers.

Hepatitis - Cause

Viral infections (A, B, C), alcohol abuse, or autoimmune response.

Hepatitis - Symptoms

Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, and nausea.

Hepatitis - Diagnosis

Blood tests (viral panels), liver function tests, and liver biopsy.

Hepatitis - Treatment

Antivirals, lifestyle changes (abstaining from alcohol), and vaccination.

Gallstones - Cause

Hardened digestive fluid deposits in the gallbladder from excess cholesterol or bilirubin.

Gallstones - Symptoms

Sudden, rapidly intensifying pain in upper right abdomen, nausea, and vomiting.

Gallstones - Diagnosis

Abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, or cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan).

Gallstones - Treatment

Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery) or dissolving medications.

Asthma - Cause

Genetic and environmental triggers causing airway inflammation and bronchospasm.

Asthma - Symptoms

Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

Asthma - Diagnosis

Spirometry and pulmonary function tests.

Asthma - Treatment

Inhaled corticosteroids, quick-relief bronchodilators, and avoiding triggers.

COPD - Cause

Long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, usually tobacco smoke.

COPD - Symptoms

Chronic cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

COPD - Diagnosis

Spirometry, chest X-ray, and arterial blood gas analysis.

COPD - Treatment

Bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy.

Pneumonia - Cause

Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections causing alveoli inflammation and fluid fill.

Pneumonia - Symptoms

Cough with phlegm, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.

Pneumonia - Diagnosis

Chest X-ray, blood tests, and sputum culture.

Pneumonia - Treatment

Antibiotics (for bacterial), antivirals, rest, and fluids.

Tuberculosis - Cause

Bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis - Symptoms

Persistent cough coughing up blood, chest pain, weight loss, and fever.

Tuberculosis - Diagnosis

Mantoux tuberculin skin test, blood tests, and chest X-rays.

Tuberculosis - Treatment

Long-term course of multiple antibiotics (e.g., isoniazid, rifampin).

Influenza - Cause

Infection by influenza viruses (Type A, B, or C).

Influenza - Symptoms

Sudden fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, cough, and sore throat.

Influenza - Diagnosis

Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) or PCR swabs.

Influenza - Treatment

Rest, fluids, and antiviral medications (e.g., oseltamivir) if caught early.

COVID-19 - Cause

Infection by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

COVID-19 - Symptoms

Fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, and shortness of breath.

COVID-19 - Diagnosis

Viral PCR tests or rapid antigen tests.

COVID-19 - Treatment

Supportive care, antivirals (Paxlovid), and monoclonal antibodies.

Lung cancer - Cause

Smoking, secondhand smoke, radon exposure, and genetic mutations.

Lung cancer - Symptoms

Chronic cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Lung cancer - Diagnosis

Chest CT scan, sputum cytology, and tissue biopsy.

Lung cancer - Treatment

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted immunotherapy.

HIV/AIDS - Cause

Infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacking immune CD4 cells.

HIV/AIDS - Symptoms

Flu-like early illness, followed by prolonged asymptomatic phase, then severe opportunistic infections.

HIV/AIDS - Diagnosis

HIV antibody/antigen tests and viral load tests.

HIV/AIDS - Treatment

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) to suppress viral load.

Lupus - Cause

Chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissues.

Lupus - Symptoms

Fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes (butterfly rash on face), and fevers.

Lupus - Diagnosis

ANA blood tests, complete blood count, and clinical criteria.

Lupus - Treatment

NSAIDs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and antimalarial drugs.

Rheumatoid arthritis - Cause

Autoimmune disorder attacking the lining of the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis - Symptoms

Tender, warm, swollen joints, joint stiffness, fatigue, and fever.

Rheumatoid arthritis - Diagnosis

Blood tests (rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP), X-rays, and ultrasounds.

Rheumatoid arthritis - Treatment

DMARDs, biologics, NSAIDs, and physical therapy.

Type I diabetes - Cause

Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.

Type I diabetes - Symptoms

Increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.

Type I diabetes - Diagnosis

Fasting blood glucose test, HbA1c test, and autoantibody tests.

Type I diabetes - Treatment

Lifelong insulin therapy, blood sugar monitoring, and carbohydrate counting.

SCID - Cause

Genetic mutations causing absent or malfunctioning T and B lymphocytes.

SCID - Symptoms

Severe, recurring infections like pneumonia, meningitis, and chronic diarrhea in infants.

SCID - Diagnosis

Complete blood count with lymphocyte panels and genetic testing.

SCID - Treatment

Stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) and gene therapy.

Allergies - Cause

Immune system overreaction to normally harmless substances (allergens).

Allergies - Symptoms

Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, skin rashes, or anaphylaxis.

Allergies - Diagnosis

Skin prick tests and specific IgE blood tests.

Allergies - Treatment

Avoiding allergens, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and immunotherapy.