DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), digestive tract, guts or gut is the system of organs within multicellular organisms that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining matter. The major functions of the gastrointestinal tract are ingestion, digestion, absorption, and defecation

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES

The intestine becomes inflamed , causing recurring abdominal cramps and diarrhea.

Chronic

Recurrent

Occur on young adults between ages 15 to 30 years

Long period of remission

Unknown cure

Etiology

Genetic predisposition

Environmental conditions

Defects in immune regulation

Bacterial in origin

Destructive enzymes

Lack of protective substances in the bowel

Emotional disturbances

Common types of IBD

Crohn’s Diseaseis an inflammatory disease of the intestines that may affect any part of

the gastrointestinal tract from anus to mouth, causing a wide variety of symptoms

It can develop discontinously without sequence and skipping in all alimentary tract , terminal ileum.

Peak onset is between ages 10 and 30Cause is unknown but possible factors are autoimmune, genetics ,

infectious agents and environmental stress.Lessions extend to all thickness of the bowel wall and are prone to fistula formation.Lesion have cobblestone appearance with sections on normal mucosa between lesions called skip lesionsChildren with Crohn’s disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. Diagnosed by colonoscopy : characteristic of aphthoid ulcers showing areas of ulceration , narrowing, strictures and fistulas

Signs and Symptoms

Diarrhea – 5 to g liquid semiformed stools/day

Abdominal pain in right lower quadrant

Fever

Fatigue

Malaise

Weight loss

Ulcerative Colitis

is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon.

Cause is unknown but may have relationship to stress , genetics , infections and dietary factors

Diagnosed by sigmoidoscopy: characteristic edmatous, friable mucosa with granular appearance with evident of crypt abscesses

Signs and Symptoms

Diarrhea – 10 to 20 liquid stools per day often containing blood and sometimes mucu

abdominal pain often in the lower right area

Rectal bleeding may be serious and persistent leading to anemia

weight loss,

Diagnostic Exams

A complete blood count is done to check for anemia; thrombocytosis, a high platelet count, is occasionally seen Electrolyte studies and renal function tests are done, as chronic diarrhea may be associated with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and pre-renal failure. Liver function tests are performed to screen for bile duct involvement: primary sclerosing cholangitis. X-ray Urinalysis Stool culture, to rule out parasites and infectious causes. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be measured, with an elevated sedimentation rate indicating that an inflammatory process is present. C-reactive protein can be measured, with an elevated level being another indication of inflammation.