Stomach problems that are severe or that do not improve within a day or two can be symptoms of serious medical conditions for severe pain that comes on suddenly, an inability to have bowel movements, bloody stool, vomiting blood, abdominal rigidity, breathing difficulties, or pain in the neck, chest, shoulders, or between the shoulders. You should … [Read more…]
Postcoital bleeding consists of spotting or bleeding that is not related to menstruation and occurs during or after sexual intercourse. Vaginal bleeding not related to menstruation is a common multifactorial gynecologic complaint seen by the primary care clinician and is a source of distress both to provider and patient as this can be a sign … [Read more…]
Allergic Oesophagitis/Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, allergic inflammatory disease of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). It occurs when a type of white blood cell, the eosinophil, accumulates in the esophagus. The elevated number of eosinophils cause injury and inflammation to the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE, also spelled eosinophilic oesophagitis), also known as allergic oesophagitis, is an allergic inflammatory condition … [Read more…]
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, allergic inflammatory disease of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). It occurs when a type of white blood cell, the eosinophil, accumulates in the esophagus. The elevated number of eosinophils cause injury and inflammation to the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE, also spelled eosinophilic oesophagitis), also known as allergic oesophagitis, is an allergic inflammatory condition of … [Read more…]
Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders consist of eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and eosinophilic colitis. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an inflammatory disorder that presents with variable degrees of infiltration of eosinophils within the gastrointestinal tract, first described by Kaijser in 19371.[rx][rx] The Klein classification has its basis in the degree of eosinophilic infiltration in different gastrointestinal layers, which include mucosal, muscle, … [Read more…]
Non-Acid Dyspepsia is characterized by discomfort and pain involving the upper gastrointestinal tract. It is a common condition that is present in 15–20 percent of the population. Symptoms are often mistaken for acid reflux disease, but functional dyspepsia is a separate entity, though there can be overlap. Typical dyspeptic symptoms in functional dyspepsia include epigastric … [Read more…]
Functional dyspepsia is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders and affects more than 20% of the population. There are three different subtypes: epigastric pain syndrome (EPS), postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), and overlapping PDS and EPS. Pathophysiology Although the exact mechanism is not well understood, the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia is complex. Several different mechanisms … [Read more…]
Regurgitation is the expulsion of material from the pharynx, or esophagus, usually characterized by the presence of undigested food or blood. Regurgitation is used by a number of species to feed their young.[rx] This is typically in circumstances where the young are at a fixed location and a parent must forage or hunt for food, especially under circumstances where … [Read more…]
Esophageal achalasia is a primary smooth muscle motility disorder specified by peristalsis of the tubular esophagus in combination with a poorly relaxing and occasionally hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES). These changes occur secondary to the destruction of the neural network coordinating esophageal peristalsis and LES relaxation (plexus myentericus). There are limited data on the segmental … [Read more…]
What Is Gastritis? It has its basis in histological features of the gastric mucosa. It is not erythema observed during gastroscopy, and there are no specific clinical presentations or symptoms defining it. The current classification of gastritis centers on time course (acute versus chronic), histological features, anatomic distribution, and underlying pathological mechanisms. Acute gastritis will … [Read more…]
Gastric ulcers are a common clinical presentation in the United States and often lead to the expenditure of millions of healthcare dollars. They are a break in the mucosal barrier of the stomach lining that penetrates through the muscularis mucosa and are greater than 5 mm in diameter. It is important to understand this disease process … [Read more…]
Digestion is the process of mechanically and enzymatically breaking down food into substances for absorption into the bloodstream. The food contains three macronutrients that require digestion before they can be absorbed: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Through the process of digestion, these macronutrients are broken down into molecules that can traverse the intestinal epithelium and enter … [Read more…]