Sometimes a digestive complaint is more long term or chronic, a result
of a disease or what's often referred to as a "functional disorder".
This article covers some of the various diseases processes associated
with common digestive complaints.
Celiac Disease / Celiac Sprue / Gluten-Sensitive
Enteropathy
For Celiac patients, gluten actually causes an abnormal immune system
reaction, which destroys the "villi" in the small intestine.
This, in turn, makes it harder for the body to absorb nutrients, and
eventually generates a serious malnutrition situation - the patient
becomes malnourished, no matter how much food they eat. Symptoms may
include abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, constipation,
vomiting, and weight loss. Celiac is considered to be an autoimmune
disease due to the destruction of the villi, and tends to run in families.
eMedicine:
Celiac Sprue
eMedicine:
Malapsorption
Google
Health: Celiac Disease
WebMD:
Celiac Disease Health Center
Crohn's Disease / Ileitis / Enteritis
Crohn's Disease causes inflammation of any location in the digestive
tract - it's not limited to specific sections, like Celiac would be.
It most commonly affects the "ileum", or lower part of the
small intestine. The inflammatory process causes pain and will frequently
cause diarrhea. Because the symptoms are very similar to other intestinal
disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, it can be difficult to diagnose
- in fact, some patients may go twenty years before an accurate diagnosis
is finally made, and end up with one or more surgeries to remove the
parts of the intestine that are chronically inflammed.
eMedicine:
Crohn Disease
MayoClinic:
Crohn's Disease
WebMD:
Crohn's Disease
Chronic Constipation / Fecal Impaction
A fecal impaction is a large mass of dry, hard stool that can develop
in the rectum due to chronic constipation. Sudden, watery diarrhea in
someone who has chronic constipation is usually an indication of a fecal
impaction (it's watery because that's really all that can get past the
blockage - solids get stuck and make the blockage bigger, hence the
need to get it taken care of ASAP.) If the problem is not taken care
of, it can lead to death or ulceration of the affected tissues. This
tends to happen on a diet high in meat products and very lilttle vegetable,
fruit or fiber. You can prevent fecal impactions by having plenty of
fiber, fruits and vegetables (preferrably raw) on a daily basis. (Or
you can also add extra magnesium to your diet - magnesium is a natural
laxitive in large enough doses.)
AllRefer:
Fecal Impactions
Discovery
Health: Fecal Impactions
WrongDiagnosis:
Fecal Impaction
Gallstones
Common symptoms can include sudden pain after eating or drinking either
certain foods, or more typically any fatty or greasy foods such as meat,
french fries, etc., with the pain lasting up to several hours. Other
symptoms can include nausea and bloating, fever, yellowish color to
the skin (Jaundice). If the gallbladder is blocked by gallstones for
a significant period of time, severe—possibly fatal—damage
or infections affecting the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas can occur.
Warning signs of a serious problem are fever, jaundice (yellowing of
the skin and eyes), and persistent pain.
National
Institute of Health: Gallstones
Kidney stones
A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that
separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney.
These may be caused by chemicals within the body or as a byproduct of
a urinary tract infection. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping
pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower
abdomen, and often described as "The Worst Pain Ever". Sometimes
nausea and vomiting occur. Later, pain may spread to the groin. If fever
and chills accompany any of these symptoms, an infection may be present;
in this case, you should contact a doctor immediately.
National
Institute of Health: Kidney Stones
Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Ulcerative
Colitis
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), one form of which is Ulcerative Colitis,
is a disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the large
intestine (colon). It is characterized by a group of symptoms - crampy
abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Abdominal pain
or discomfort in association with bowel dysfunction is the main symptom.
Symptoms may vary from person to person; some people have constipation
(hard, difficult-to-pass, or infrequent bowel movements); others have
diarrhea (frequent loose stools, often with a frequent and urgent need
to move the bowels); and still others experience alternating constipation
and diarrhea. Some people experience bloating, which is gas building
up in the intestines and causing the feeling of pressure inside the
abdomen. Patients with colitis often have diarrhea as well as the need
to use the bathroom more frequently than most people.
Digestive
Facts: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
National
Institute of Health: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Diverticulitis
Most people with diverticulitis do not have any discomfort or symptoms.
However, symptoms may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation.
Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers
cause similar problems, so these symptoms do not always mean a person
has diverticulitis. You should visit your doctor if you have these troubling
symptoms. The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain.
The most common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower
abdomen. If infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills,
cramping, and constipation may occur as well. The severity of symptoms
depends on the extent of the infection and complications.
Digestive
Facts: Diverticulitis
National
Institute of Health: Diverticulitis
Malabsorption (Various Types) (
Overview)
Malabsorption can result from a broad spectrum of diseases. Typically,
malabsorption can be the failure to absorb specific sugars, fats, proteins,
or vitamins, or it can be a general malabsorption of food. Diarrhea,
bloating or cramping, failure to thrive, frequent bulky stools, muscle
wasting, and a distended abdomen may accompany malabsorption. Malabsorption
can affect growth and development, or it can lead to specific illnesses.
Some of the causes of malabsorption include (all links here are from
the National Institute of Health) but are not limited to:
Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease (a/k/a "Acid Reflux")
Lactose
Intolerance
Ulcers
Whipple's
Disease (Rare)
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