Diseases+of+the+Gastrointestinal+Tract

= Diseases of the Gatrointestinal Tract  =

Diseases and Ailments of the stomach[[image:upset_stomach.jpg width="106" height="114"]]
1. __**Nausea and Vomiting**__ Nausea is typically described as a general feeling of discomfort within the gastrointestinal system, usually centered on the stomach.Vomiting is the process by which the contents of the stomach and duodenum are forcibly expelled from the body. Vomiting is usually accompanied by a feeling of nausea, but nausea need not result in vomiting. Nausea can be caused due to:
 * Overeating
 * Alcohol consumption
 * Stress
 * Migrain Headaches
 * Hormonal changes(as experienced during pregnancy)
 * Drugs(as in chemotherapy)

Vomiting is the body's attempt to remove toxins from the stomach and the upper regions of the small intestine. It may be caused due to:
 * Intense nausea
 * Trauma to the body
 * Emotional response

2. __**Gastritis**__ Gastritis is the inflammmation of the mucosa layer of the stomach.It can be caused by:
 * Bacterial infections
 * Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen
 * Smoking
 * Alcohol consumption

Click on this link to read more about Gastritis.

3. __**Peptic Ulcers**__ Peptic ulcers -- open sores in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, or duodenum (the first part of the intestine -- are common. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, about 20 million Americans will develop an ulcer during their life.It can be caused due to : Other causes of ulcers are conditions that can result in direct damage to the wall of the stomach or duodenum, such as heavy use of alcohol, radiation therapy, burns, and physical injury. Click on this link to read more about Peptic Ulcers. 
 * Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) -- H. pylori, a type of bacteria, is responsible for most ulcers. This organism weakens the protective coating of the stomach and first part of the intestine and allows damaging digestive juices to eat away at the sensitive lining below. As many as 20% of Americans over age 40 have H. pylori living in their digestive tract, but most do not develop ulcers.
 * Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – Long-term use of these pain relievers is the second most common cause of ulcers. These drugs block prostaglandins, substances in the stomach that help maintain blood flow and protect the area from injury. Some people are more susceptible to this side effect of NSAIDs than others. These drugs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and ketoprofen (OrudisKT), as well as prescription drugs. Some may be more likely to produce ulcers than others. If you must use long-term pain medications, talk to your doctor about which ones are safest.

===Diseases and Ailments of the Small and Large Intestine 1. __**Cholera**__ === Cholera is an infection of the small intestine caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae and results in a large amount of watery diarrhea. A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. The cholera bacterium may also live in the environment in brackish rivers and coastal waters. Shellfish eaten raw have been a source of cholera, and a few persons in the United States have contracted cholera after eating raw or undercooked shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico. The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill. Click below to watch a video: [] 2. **__Whipple's Disease__** Whipple’s disease is a rare bacterial infection primarily affecting the small intestine. It can also affect the heart, lungs, brain, joints, and eyes. Left untreated, Whipple’s disease is fatal.It is caused by: Bacteria called Tropheryma whipplei (T. whipplei) cause Whipple’s disease. T. whipplei infection can cause internal sores, also called lesions, and the thickening of tissues. Villi, which are tiny fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, take on an abnormal, clublike appearance. The damaged intestinal lining fails to properly absorb nutrients, causing diarrhea and malnutrition. Scientists are unsure how T. whipplei infects people. One theory is that some people are more vulnerable to Whipple’s disease—probably due to genetic factors that influence the body’s immune system. This theory is supported by the existence of a relatively high number of asymptomatic carriers—people who have the bacteria in their bodies but don’t get sick. Also, the bacteria are more common in the environment—showing up in soil and sewage wastewater—than would be predicted based on the rareness of the disease. And while multiple cases of Whipple’s disease have occurred within the same family, no documentation exists of a person-to-person transmission. 3. __**Giardiasis**__ Giardiasis is an infection of the small bowelby a single-celled organism called Giardia lamblia. People become infected with the parasiteafter swallowing Giardia cyst often found in water contaminated by raw sewage or animal waste. Giardia cysts are transmitted to humans in various ways.
 * Contaminated water supplies: Giardia is one of the most common causes of water-borne diarrhea outbreaks. Sources of contaminated water include public facilities that improperly filter and treat water, water in developing countries, or rivers and lakes used by hikers. Overseas travelers and hikers are at a high risk for infection.
 * Contaminated food: Food that may have been washed in contaminated water, exposed to manure, or prepared by an infected person can transmit the disease.
 * Person-to-person contact: Infection may be caused by poor hygiene and most commonly occurs in daycare centers, nursing homes, and in sexually active homosexual males. Up to 50% of children infected with Giardia in daycare centers, and up to 20% of infected sexually active homosexual males, pass cysts in their stool. Family members, daycare workers, and others in contact with infected stool may then themselves become infected

Watch this video on Giardiasis: media type="youtube" key="L8UTpc37Wx8?fs=1" height="229" width="288" align="center"

References: The Digestive System by Michael Windelspecht Biology by Matthew Distefano National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website at :[]