Gastrointestinal disorders

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal disorders (pronunciation: gas-tro-in-tes-ti-nal dis-or-ders) are conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum, as well as the accessory organs of digestion, the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Etymology

The term "gastrointestinal" is derived from the Greek words "gaster" (stomach) and "enteron" (intestine). The term "disorder" comes from the Old French "desordre" (disorder, confusion).

Types of Gastrointestinal Disorders

There are many types of gastrointestinal disorders, including:

  • Peptic ulcer disease: This condition occurs when sores develop in the lining of the stomach, upper small intestine, or esophagus.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This is a chronic condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): This is a term for two conditions, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): This is a common disorder that affects the large intestine and can cause cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation.
  • Gastroenteritis: This is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that involves both the stomach and the small intestine.

Symptoms

Symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders can vary greatly depending on the specific condition, but may include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss or gain.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, and imaging studies. Treatment can involve lifestyle changes, medication, and in some cases, surgery.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski