Gastrointestinal disease

Gastrointestinal diseases (GI diseases) refer to diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract, which comprises the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and accessory organs of digestion such as the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. These conditions can affect any part of this system and are often grouped by the organ involved.

Blausen 0316 DigestiveSystem

Classification

• GI diseases can be broadly classified into infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, structural, and functional disorders:
• Infectious Diseases: These include conditions such as gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and Helicobacter pylori infection which are caused by bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal pathogens.
• Inflammatory Diseases: Conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, together known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic inflammatory conditions of the GI tract.
• Neoplastic Diseases: This category includes benign and malignant growths such as polyps, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Structural Diseases: These conditions involve physical changes in the structure of the GI tract, such as hiatus hernia, anal fissure, and hemorrhoids.
• Functional Diseases: Disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are functional GI disorders where the GI tract looks normal but does not work properly.

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Digestive diseases world map-DALYs per million persons-WHO2012

Symptoms

Common symptoms of gastrointestinal disease include abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, and changes in bowel habits. The nature and severity of symptoms can vary significantly depending on the specific disease and the part of the GI tract affected.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of GI diseases often involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging studies, and endoscopic procedures. Some of the diagnostic tools used in gastroenterology include upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and various blood and stool tests.

Treatment

The treatment of GI diseases depends on the specific disease. It can involve dietary changes, medications (like antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or proton pump inhibitors), endoscopic procedures, or surgery. Some diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, may require lifelong management.

Epidemiology and Impact

GI diseases are prevalent worldwide and have a significant impact on public health. Conditions such as gastroenteritis and hepatitis are more common in regions with poor sanitation. In contrast, IBD and IBS are more prevalent in developed countries. GI diseases can lead to significant morbidity and mortality and have a substantial economic impact due to healthcare costs and loss of productivity.

See Also

• Digestive system
• Gastroenterology
• Gastroenteritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease

References

• Longstreth GF, Thompson WG, Chey WD, Houghton LA, Mearin F, Spiller RC. (2006). Functional bowel disorders. Gastroenterology, 130(5), 1480-1491.
• Baumgart DC, Sandborn WJ. (2012). Crohn's disease. The Lancet, 380(9853), 1590-1605.

Scallan E, Griffin PM, Angulo F.

Gastrointestinal disease Resources
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