Medically reviewed by Holly McCain. Last updated on May 24, 2025
General Illness Information
Medical Term: Nothing specified
Common Name: Gastrointestinal tract disorders, digestive disorders, gastrointestinal diseases
Description: Gastrointestinal tract disorders include diseases of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, intestines, gallbladder and liver. They are the most common pathologies in the world. 95% of the population suffers from these diseases.
Types:
- Atony of the stomach;
- Atony of the esophagus;
- Atresia of the esophagus;
- Bauthinite;
- Crohn’s disease;
- Will’s disease;
- Botulism;
- Bulemia;
- Internal hernia;
- Gastritis;
- Gastroptosis;
- Gastroenterocolitis;
- Hemorrhoids;
- Hemochromatosis;
- Hepatitis;
- Hepatitis A (Botkin’s disease);
- Hepatitis B;
- Hepatitis C;
- Hepatitis D;
- Hepatitis E;
- Diarrhea;
- Esophagus diverticulum;
- Dyspepsia;
- Dystrophy;
- Duodenitis;
- Gallstone disease;
- Inversion of the stomach;
- Volvulus;
- Constipation;
- Heartburn;
- Hiccups;
- Colitis;
- Flatulence;
- Opisthorchiasis;
- Belching;
- Pancreatitis;
- Vomiting;
- Gilbert’s Syndrome;
- Rotor Syndrome;
- Splenomegaly;
- Nausea;
- Cholangitis;
- Cholecystitis;
- Celiac disease;
- Cirrhosis of the liver;
- Esophagitis;
- Enterocolitis;
- Stomach ulcer;
- Ulcer of duodenum;
- Peptic Ulcer.
Causes:
The causes of the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be very diverse:
- The lesion of the digestive system by bacteria and viruses (Helicobacter, lamblia, staphylococcus, herpes, cytomegalovirus, chlamydia, etc.);
- Systematic violations of diet and nutrition, stress;
- Various types of helminth infection;
- Hereditary factor;
- Various poisonings;
- Acute infectious diseases (viral hepatitis, salmonella, enterovirus or intestinal flu, etc.);
- Prolonged use of antibiotics and other chemicals.
Signs & Symptoms:
The signs of gastrointestinal tract disorders are diverse and depend on the location of the pathological processes. General symptoms include:
- heartburn;
- eructation;
- nausea and vomiting;
- flatulence;
- stool disorder;
- sharp weight loss;
- sharp weight gain;
- lack of appetite;
- huge appetite;
- abdominal pain of varying localization and intensity;
- general weakness.
These symptoms of gastrointestinal tract diseases are not dangerous, but if you do not pay attention to them and do not treat them in time, they are fraught with unpleasant complications in various body systems.
Diagnosis:
To diagnose diseases of gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tests are required. Patients breathe into a special tube, and the specialist determines the type of the disease and its cause.
In addition, there are some more methods of diagnosis:
- gastroscopy;
- laboratory methods;
- laparoscopy;
- rectoscopy;
- radiological research;
- ultrasound (ultrasound);
- esophagoscopy, etc.
Treatment:
Doctors usually prescribe the medications that improve the work of the digestive tract and stimulate the natural processes of digestion – probiotics. They are able to regulate digestion processes in the intestine.
Unlike antibiotics, which are aimed at destroying bacteria, probiotics are designed to create conditions for a healthy flora. Moreover, probiotics positively influence the state of the whole organism.
Possible Complications:
Gastrointestinal tract disorders disrupt the immune, endocrine, nervous, cardiovascular and other body systems.
Prevention and prognosis:
- Eat well. Follow to a diet. Eat 5-6 times a day, but do not overeat. Limit fried, smoked, fatty and salty foods. Eat more fiber (vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread with bran);
- Control your weight. Calculate the body mass index and stick to it, fight obesity, lose weight, but do it right;
- Minimize alcohol consumption. And if you have a gastrointestinal disease, refuse it completely;
- Quit smoking;
- Avoid stressful situations and nervous expenses;
- Lead an active lifestyle. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be caused by small motor activity of a person. Do exercises in the morning, run in the evenings, and if you have a “sedentary” job, try to do short warm-up exercises every 1-2 hours;
- Take probiotics and probiotic drugs on a daily basis. The gastrointestinal tract needs constant supply of useful microorganisms.
Other:
Not specified.
About Holly McCain