CHAPTER 9:

COMMON DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

The most common of diseases of the digestive system can be caused by a number of
things, including but not limited to: Bacteria; parasitic organisms; feces or the possible
contents of feces; side effects of certain drugs and medicines; certain types of food; and your
genetic makeup.
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX
Illustration 1.1 ctivity of
!astrointestinal "eflu#
Gastroesophaea! re"!#$ %GER& $see illustration 1.1%
happens &hen the !o'er esophaea! sph()*ter + a r() o"
,#s*!e that a*ts !(-e a o)e+'a. /a!/e ()to .o#r sto,a*h +
ope)s a!! o" a s#00e). 'hen this happens, sto,a*h a*(0 a)0
other sto,a*h *o)te)ts e)ter the esopha#s. 'hen !("
happens persistently over a long period of time, this is kno&n as
!astroesophageal "eflu# )isease $!(")%.
Because of the acidity of the stomach contents, one may be
able to taste this at the back of their mouth, as something sour
similar to the taste of vomit. lso, the acid irritates the esophageal
lining since it usually doesn*t touch stomach acid. This causes &hat is
called +heartburn+, &hich isn*t literally burning in the heart, but a
burning pain in the lo&er chest.
(ating spicy, oily and acidic foods can irritate the stomach and stomach ,uices, causing
!(". -moking and obesity can also affect the occurrence of !(".
ULCERS
Illustration ..1 /ocations of ulcers
U!*ers $see illustration ..1% are pa()"#!
sores that are prese)t o) the !()()s o"
the sto,a*h %Gastr(* U!*ers&;
0#o0e)#,1 or the 2e())() o" the
s,a!! ()test()e %Pept(* U!*ers&; or less
commonly, the esopha#s. 0lcers are
usually caused by a bacterium kno&n as
1elicobater pylori, &hich can come from
contaminated foods and &ater, and
damages the layers of mucus that protect
the linings of the digestive organs from
digestive acids, causing the sores to occur.
-ome 2on3steroidal nti3Inflammatory
)rugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen can
also cause ulcers. -tress and spicy foods can &orsen the symptoms of ulcers. -moking and
drinking alcohol can &orsen ulcers and prevent them from healing.
0lcers are usually felt as pain in the abdomen that comes and goes over a number of
days or &eeks, usually &hen the stomach is empty. -ome other symptoms include &eight
loss, poor appetite, bloating, burping, nausea and vomiting. -ome cases e#perience only mild
or no symptoms.
To treat ulcers, certain antibiotics can be taken to kill the 1. pylori causing these
infections. 4ertain medicines for lessening symptoms can also be taken to protect organ
linings, such as Bismuth subsalicylate or 5epto3Bismol &hich coats ulcers to protect them
against acid, and drugs that can suppress the secretion of acid into the stomach.
IRRITA3LE 3O4EL SYNDROME
Irritable Bo&el -yndrome isn*t a disease, but a dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract,
meaning that it happens only because the !I tract isn*t &orking as intended; there is no
damage or changes to it. IB- is actually a group of symptoms that occur at the same time,
usually abdominal pain, discomfort6cramping, and one or a combination of *o)st(pat(o) or
0(arrhea5 The subtypes of IB- are based on the percent occurrence of feces indicative of
diarrhea or constipation in bo&el movements. IB- can be treated &ith certain changes in the
diet, particularly by targeting either constipation or diarrhea depending on &hich is more
prevalent.
Illustration 7.1 Table of IB- -ubtypes based on occurrence of constipation and diarrhea
-ubtype 8ccurrence of 4onstipation 8ccurrence of )iarrhea
IB-34 $IB- &ith constipation% 9.:; of the time <.:; of the time
IB-3) $IB- &ith diarrhea% <.:; of the time 9.:; of the time
IB-3= $=i#ed IB-% 9.:; of the time 9.:; of the time
IB-30 $0n3subtyped IB-% <.:; of the time <.:; of the time
-ource: http:66digestive.niddk.nih.gov6ddiseases6pubs6ibs6inde#.asp#
Illustration 7.. /o&er gastrointestinal tract
Co)st(pat(o)
4onstipation is not a symptom but a
disease. It happens &hen your "e*es *o,es o#t
har01 0r. a)0 s,a!! () s(6e; and &hen your
2o'e! ,o/e,e)ts are 0(""(*#!t1 pa()"#! and
happen !ess tha) three t(,es a 'ee-. This
happens &hen your feces moves too slo&ly
through the large intestines the main site in the
body for the absorption of &ater from digested
food 3 and more &ater than usual is absorbed from
the feces, leaving it dry. )iet 3 usually a lack of
fiber 3 and lifestyle; dehydration; certain drugs,
and other gastrointestinal conditions can cause
constipation.
D(arrhea
)iarrhea is a symptom that you could say is the opposite of constipation; that is, "e*es
*o,es o#t !oose1 "ast a)0 'ater., since the feces passes through the large intestines too
fast for &ater to be absorbed from the feces by the body. 3o'e! ,o/e,e)ts are
#)*o,"orta2!e and happe) three or ,ore t(,es a 0a.. )iarrhea can cause dehydration,
a lack of fluids and essential electrolytes such as salts, so re3hydration is essential in
treatment.
)iarrhea can be caused by certain bacterial, viral and parasitic infections from
contaminated food and &ater, or the environment; other gastrointestinal diseases; and
reactions to certain foods and medicines.
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
Illustration >.1 Breakdo&n of lactose into
components
/actose is a form of sugar found in milk. In
order to digest lactose, the small intestines
produces an en?yme called lactase to break it
do&n into glucose and galactose. La*tose
()to!era)*e is a result of !a*tase 0e"(*(e)*.1
or the s,a!! ()test()es "a(!() to pro0#*e
e)o#h !a*tase to 2rea- 0o') !a*tose
prese)t () the 0(et1 *a#s() 2a*ter(a () the
0(est(/e tra*t to "er,e)t (t1 leading to a
2#(!0#p o" ases a)0 a*(0s as a res#!t.
/actose intolerance causes abdominal pain,
bloating due to buildup of gas, diarrhea and
nausea.
There are t&o types of lactase deficiency.
Pr(,ar. !a*tase 0e"(*(e)*. develops at the
age of ., and is possibly genetic in origin, due to a gene inherited from the parents. This sort
of lactase deficiency is actually e#pected of animals after infancy, as milk is usually absent
from the diet later in life. -ome people, ho&ever, continue to produce lactase normally into
adulthood. Se*o)0ar. !a*tose 0e"(*(e)*. can come from other gastrointestinal disease
that involve in,ury of the small intestines.
Treating lactose intolerance generally involves changes to the diet. The amount of
lactose taken in by a person can be regulated in order to prevent the symptoms of lactose
intolerance from happening. +=ilk+ products that are free of lactose, such as soy or coconut
milk, can take the place of milk in the diet. /actase, in the form of drops or tablets, can be
ingested along &ith foodstuffs containing lactose in order to help in its digestion.
APPENDICITIS
Illustration :.1 4omparison of a normal and inflamed appendi#
Appe)0(*(t(s is the
()"e*t(o) a)0 res#!t()
s'e!!() o" the
appe)0($, the little pouch
of intestinal flesh located in
the ,unction bet&een the
small and large intestines.
This happens &hen the
appe)0(*(a! !#,e) + the
()s(0e o" the appe)0($ +
(s 2!o*-e0, usually by
feces, parasites, enlarged
lymph tissues in the &all of
the appendi# due to
another gastrointestinal
infection; inflammations,
abnormal gro&ths and
physical trauma to the area. 'hen any of these happen, the 2a*ter(a that )or,a!!.
()ha2(t the appe)0($ to ,#!t(p!. a2)or,a!!. a)0 ()"e*t the appe)0($. ppendicitis
usually causes pain 3 and possibly s&elling 3 in the lo&er abdomen; nausea and vomiting;
constipation or diarrhea; and lo&er fever.
ppendicitis can be treated &ith an appendectomy 3 the surgical removal of the
appendi#, &hich has little to no effect to the patient physiologically 3 or through antibiotic
treatment &ith a li@uid or soft diet to fight the infection and prevent further obstruction.
So#r*e:
$ "elated articles located at 0.-. )epartment of 1ealth and 1uman -ervices, 2ational )igestive )iseases
Information 4learinghouse $2))I4% %
)igestive diseases a3? list of topics and titles. $n.d.%. "etrieved from
http:66digestive.niddk.nih.gov6ddiseases6a3?.asp#
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