Infectious diseases of the human digestive system. Diseases of the digestive system. Diagnosis of diseases of the digestive system

22.09.2014 10:11

Entry into the body of the proper amount of nutrients is the most important factor in ensuring the normal functioning of a person. The process of intake of vitamins and minerals necessary for the body is provided by the digestive organs. Diseases of the digestive system disrupt the normal supply of nutrients to the body and, as a result, disrupt the functioning of literally all systems and organs. That is why the treatment of diseases affecting the digestive system must be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

How are the digestive organs arranged?

Diseases of the digestive system can affect different organs, which anatomy divides into several sections. The process of digestion begins with the pre-processing of food, which is carried out in the oral cavity. From there, food travels down the throat, then into the esophagus, and finally into the main digestive organ, the stomach.

The stomach, consisting of muscles, has in its internal cavity many glands that produce gastric juice and hydrochloric acid. Food broken down by the above liquids begins to move into the duodenum, which is the initial section of the intestine. Here, the digested food is exposed to bile and pancreatic juice.

Of course, a large number of organs contributes to a variety of ailments - diseases of the digestive system are numerous, painful and can significantly reduce the quality of life.

The longest section of the digestive system is the small intestine. In it, food is finally broken down, and nutrients safely penetrate into the blood. The process of digestion in the large intestine is completed - undigested food remains enter it, which are excreted from the body due to the movement of the large intestine.

Diseases of the digestive system can also affect such organs as the liver and pancreas. It is thanks to these two important organs, as well as the salivary and microscopic glands, that the process of digestion occurs. The liver is responsible for the production of bile, and the pancreas is responsible for insulin and the enzymes necessary for the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The salivary glands are responsible for softening the food eaten.

Only the well-coordinated and clear work of the digestive system allows us to talk about the normal state of the body, the slightest disturbances and failures in this complex biological mechanism provoke certain diseases of the digestive system. We have to admit that today violations in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract are a very common phenomenon. Improper nutrition, stress, unhealthy food, chronic diseases - all these factors increase the risk of joining the ranks of patients suffering from gastrointestinal diseases. The most common diseases of the digestive system are, first of all, gastritis, dysbacteriosis, duodenitis, peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach, reflux esophagitis, erosive bulbitis, food poisoning, intestinal obstruction and many other ailments. Each of the above diseases should be treated competently and in a timely manner. Ignoring the diseases of the digestive system, the patient, due to a violation of the supply of nutrients to the blood, endangers the health of the whole organism.


Causes of diseases of the digestive system

Diseases of the digestive system depend on many specific factors. Doctors, on the other hand, classify all the existing causes that provoke the diseases in question into two categories - internal and external. The fundamental role influencing the occurrence of a particular disease of the digestive system is undoubtedly played by external causes:
. the use of harmful and low-quality food;
. the use of liquids harmful to the body;
. misuse or misuse of medications.

Diseases of the digestive system are often the result of an unbalanced diet. It, in particular, is expressed in excess or, on the contrary, in insufficient consumption of proteins, fats, carbohydrates. Often, diseases of the digestive system become the result of carelessness and a frivolous attitude to the diet and health in general, we are talking, first of all, about the following:
. prolonged neglect of regular nutrition;
. excessive consumption of spicy, salty and very hot foods;
. the presence of preservatives in daily food.

That is why diseases of the digestive system are so dependent on the diet, diet and the quality of the products consumed. The amount of harmful foods in the diet should be minimized, and even better - reduced to zero. At the first symptoms indicating a particular disease of the digestive system, you should immediately review your diet, excluding from it all foods that are undesirable for the body.

No less harm to the digestive system is caused by the thoughtless use of harmful, in fact, liquids - alcohol and its surrogates, soda, and other drinks with preservatives and dyes.

The next factor that increases the risk of developing any disease of the digestive system is smoking. Stress, experiences are also very common provocateurs of the ailments in question.

Among the internal causes of diseases of the digestive system are:
. malformations of intrauterine development;
. hereditary factors;
. autoimmune processes.

The main symptom that accompanies diseases of the digestive system is the pain that occurs in the digestive tract. The intensity of pain varies, it depends on the specific disease.
1. Cholecystitis. This disease of the digestive system is accompanied by pain spreading along the hypochondrium - right or left.
2. Pancreatitis. It is accompanied by girdle pain of incomprehensible localization. Often the pain radiates between the shoulder blades or in the region of the heart.
3. Gastric ulcer. Perforation of a stomach ulcer causes sharp, intense pain.

The pains can be sharp and aching, weak and intense, they can also depend on the food eaten. So, for example, patients with pancreatitis and cholecystitis, after eating fatty foods, experience unpleasant pain. And with a stomach ulcer, an increase in pain begins if a person does not take food for a long time. But pain in hyperacid gastritis can be removed by drinking milk.

At the first suspicion of the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the doctor, conducting a thorough examination, uses the following diagnostic methods:
. palpation;
. auscultation;
. percussion.

The doctor, when diagnosing, is also interested in the patient's complaints in detail, studies the anamnesis.

Usually, diseases of the digestive system require all kinds of laboratory tests:
. general blood analysis;
. blood chemistry;
. stool analysis;
. Analysis of urine.

Also, the following research methods can be used for diagnosis:
. radiation;
. Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
. fluoroscopy with contrast agents;
. radiography;
. MRI and CT.

In addition, some diseases of the digestive system may require the procedures necessary to assess the condition of the internal organs and at the same time obtain material for biopsy. These are the following procedures:
. colonoscopy;
. sigmoidoscopy;
. esophagogastroduodenoscopy;
. laparoscopy.

To examine the stomach in detail, functional tests can be used to obtain information about its motor function and acid secretion. In addition, tests allow you to examine the condition of the small intestine and pancreas.

Treatment of diseases of the digestive system

The scheme by which treatment is performed depends on the specific ailment diagnosed in the patient. Diseases of the digestive system, like any ailments, require timely and competent treatment in order to prevent, firstly, complications, and, secondly, the transition of an acute stage into a chronic form.

After conducting the necessary research, the doctor, based on the results obtained, draws up a therapy regimen. The most important stage in the treatment of the vast majority of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is, undoubtedly, a special diet. In the acute form of the disease, the patient can be prescribed parenteral nutrition for a certain time - it provides the supply of all useful substances directly to the blood. Then, the recovering person is prescribed a normal diet, however, foods that can provoke the return of symptoms of the disease are eliminated from the diet.

Diseases of the digestive system are often treated in stages. For example, acute gastritis is treated as follows:
. normalize the excretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract;
. treat the patient with antibiotics;
. prescribe drugs that allow the cells of the gastric mucosa to renew themselves and normalize metabolism.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are often cured in a matter of weeks, and it happens that it takes years to cure them. As a rule, the speed of treatment is affected by the timeliness of diagnosis. So, in particular, it is extremely important to diagnose diseases of the digestive system in children in time - this allows you to minimize the time of treatment.

Often, when diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are detected, patients are prescribed complex treatment - it, as a rule, brings the maximum effect. For example, with a stomach ulcer, the patient is first recommended to eliminate the causes that provoke the development of the disease. Then the doctor prescribes a course that includes medication and diet. At the same time, such treatment methods as physiotherapy, magnetotherapy, laser therapy and others can be prescribed.

In order for the treatment to be successful, the patient himself must be aware of the importance of preventing gastrointestinal diseases. He needs, in particular, to change his lifestyle - eat right, get rid of bad habits, observe sleep patterns.

Today, diseases are often diagnosed without any manifestation of clinical symptoms. We are talking about chronic ischemic disease of the digestive system - it is provoked by damage to the visceral arteries of the abdominal aorta. This disease causes a violation of the patency of the above-mentioned arteries. A detailed diagnosis is extremely important here, otherwise the treatment will not be effective. Patients with such a problem are shown a special diet (a ban on foods that cause flatulence; the patient should eat a little, but often). Treatment is carried out by means of antispasmodic drugs, as well as agents that normalize blood circulation.

The lack of effect with conservative therapy forces physicians to resort to surgical intervention. There are two options for operations - low-traumatic and abdominal.

Prevention of gastrointestinal diseases

Diseases of the digestive system require mandatory preventive measures, which consist primarily in organizing proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To prevent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to engage in daily physical activity, actively relax and get enough sleep.


A separate preventive measure is regular preventive examinations, which are needed even in the absence of any alarming symptoms. It would be useful to know that people who have crossed the forty-year milestone should have an abdominal ultrasound done annually.

The issue of nutrition is very important in the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases. Nutrition plays almost a key role in the development of the diseases in question. That is why it is so important to eat right - regularly, balanced and varied. Eating should be moderate in nature - overeating is unacceptable. You can not eat until you feel full. You should get up from the table slightly hungry.

For a well-coordinated and accurate work of the digestive system, raw vegetables and fruits should be present in the diet every day. Food must be exceptionally fresh. It should be eaten slowly and chewed thoroughly. You need to eat 4-5 times a day, observing the meal regimen. The diet should not be filled with excessively hot and cold food. Over time, you should stop eating all refined carbohydrates and limit your salt intake.

Even young children are familiar with disorders of the digestive system. Adults face this problem quite often. Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract may be associated with overeating or eating stale foods. Unfortunately, no one is immune from digestive disorders. In some cases, they are associated with the development of gastrointestinal diseases. Digestive problems are indicated by symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and changes in stool. Such manifestations are associated with both acute inflammatory processes and chronic diseases. If you experience symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, you should consult a doctor.

How is the digestive process carried out normally?

As you know, the digestive system consists of many interconnected organs. It begins in the oral cavity and passes through the entire body, ending in the anus. Normally, all stages of the digestion process are carried out sequentially. First, food enters the mouth. There it is crushed with the help of teeth. In addition, there is an enzyme in the mouth - salivary amylase, which is involved in the breakdown of food. As a result, a lump of crushed products is formed - chyme. It passes through the esophagus and enters the stomach cavity. Here the chyme is treated with hydrochloric acid. The result is the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. The pancreas produces enzymes that enter the lumen of the duodenum. They provide further splitting of organic substances.

The work of the digestive system is not only in grinding the food eaten. Thanks to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, useful substances penetrate into the bloodstream. The absorption of amino acids, fats and glucose occurs in the small intestine. From there, nutrients enter the vascular system and are carried throughout the body. The large intestine absorbs fluid and vitamins. There is also the formation of fecal masses. Intestinal peristalsis contributes to their promotion and excretion.

Digestive problems: causes of disorders

Violation of any stage of the digestive process leads to the development of disorders. It can develop for various reasons. In most cases, the penetration of bacterial or viral agents leads to disruption of the digestive tract. Pathogens begin to multiply rapidly and damage the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. This, in turn, leads to an inflammatory response. As a result, the digestion process slows down or is disturbed. Causes of gastrointestinal disorders include:

To find out for what reason the disorder arose, it is necessary to be examined. Laboratory and instrumental diagnostic procedures will help determine the source of the pathology.

Causes of Digestive Disorders in Children

In childhood, digestive problems are common. They may be related to various factors. Among them are hereditary anomalies, improper feeding, helminthic invasions, infectious pathologies, etc. In some cases, urgent surgical care is required to fix the problem. Causes of indigestion in children include:

1. Hereditary disorders of the exocrine glands - cystic fibrosis.
2. Anomalies in the development of the digestive tract.
3. Spasm or stenosis of the pyloric stomach.
4. Feeding a young child excessively thick food.
5. Poisoning from stale or spoiled food.
6. Infection with various pathogenic bacteria that enter the gastrointestinal tract with food.
7. Worm infestations.

Only a doctor can find out: why there was a problem with digestion in children. Some pathologies can be fatal, so they require urgent medical attention.

Varieties of diseases of the digestive system

Diseases of the digestive system are classified according to the cause of occurrence, the source of the development of the pathological condition, the methods of necessary treatment. There are surgical and therapeutic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. In the first case, recovery can only be achieved with the help of surgery. Therapeutic diseases are treated with medications.

Surgical pathologies of the digestive system include:

Therapeutic diseases of the digestive system are acute and chronic inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines and poisoning. Injuries can belong to both groups, depending on the severity and nature of the lesion.

Digestive problems: symptoms

Pathologies of the digestive system can be manifested by a syndrome of gastric or intestinal dyspepsia, pain in the abdomen and changes in the nature of the stool. In some cases, phenomena of intoxication of the body are observed. Symptoms of stomach pathologies include: pain in the epigastric region, nausea and vomiting after eating. Similar clinical manifestations are observed in cholecystitis. The difference is that patients with inflammation of the gallbladder complain of pain in the right upper abdomen and a bitter taste in the mouth. characterized by a change in the consistency of the stool (diarrhea, less often - constipation) and flatulence. Unpleasant sensations can be in the navel, in the right or left side of the abdomen.

In acute surgical pathologies, the intensity of pain is stronger, there is a delay in gas discharge, an increase in body temperature. Often patients are forced to lie down or take a forced position to alleviate the condition.

Diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Diagnosis of pathologies of the digestive system is based on clinical data and additional studies. First of all, patients must pass a general blood and urine test. If inflammatory is suspected, it is necessary to determine the level of indicators such as bilirubin, ALT and AST, amylase. You should also take a feces for analysis.

Instrumental studies include radiography, abdominal ultrasound and FGDS. In some cases, additional diagnostics are required.

Which doctor should be consulted?

What to do if there are problems with digestion, which doctor will help? Gastrointestinal diseases are treated by a gastroenterologist. However, before making an appointment with him, it is worth undergoing an examination, which is prescribed by a therapist or pediatrician. If acute abdominal pain occurs, emergency care should be called to exclude surgical pathologies that require immediate surgical intervention.

Treatment of pathologies of the digestive system

Surgical treatment consists in eliminating intestinal obstruction, removing calculi, tumor formations, suturing an ulcer, etc.

Prevention of digestive disorders

To prevent digestive problems from recurring, it is necessary to follow preventive measures. These include:

1. Dieting.
2. Careful food processing.
3. Hand washing.
4. Quit smoking and alcohol.

If you experience discomfort in the abdomen, stool disorders or nausea, you should undergo an examination and find out the cause of the problem.

Every day, each person is faced with a variety of aggressive substances that, under favorable circumstances, can attack the body and cause the development of a variety of health problems. The causative agents of various diseases can penetrate the skin, mucous membranes, organs of the respiratory system, etc. Sometimes they enter the body with food or water. In this case, a person may develop infections of the digestive system, the symptoms and treatment of which we will now discuss in a little more detail.

Infections of the digestive system can occur when consuming insufficiently clean vegetables, berries or fruits. Also, such diseases can develop due to eating poor-quality foods or drinking contaminated water. The main environment for the vital activity of pathogenic bacteria is the intestines, respectively, doctors also classify the diseases caused by them as intestinal infections.

Symptoms of a digestive system infection

Manifestations of infections of the digestive tract largely depend on the type of pathogen. However, there are a number of common signs that may indicate their development: weakness, deterioration (disappearance) of appetite, as well as pain in the abdomen.

The influence of aggressive microorganisms in the digestive tract does not become noticeable immediately, it can take up to fifty hours before the first symptoms of the disease appear. But in most cases, they occur about twelve hours after the infection has occurred.

A slight malaise pretty soon gives way to severe pain in the abdomen. The patient is concerned about vomiting and frequent loose stools, the causes of which are all in the same activity of microorganisms. Infectious lesions are usually accompanied by fever and chills, excessive sweating and other manifestations of fever. Loss of consciousness may also occur.

These symptoms indicate the development of severe intoxication of the body, which is explained by the vital activity of pathogenic bacteria. The combination of frequent vomiting and loose stools quickly leads to dehydration, which, if not adequately corrected, can cause irreversible consequences (impaired kidney function and changes in the cardiovascular system). Severe dehydration can even be fatal, especially in children and the elderly.

The temperature during infections of the digestive tract can rise to 37C and above, but in some cases it remains normal (with cholera) or quickly normalizes (with staphylococcal lesions).

Many bacteria pose a threat to human life and health, therefore, with the listed symptoms, it is worth seeking doctor's help, especially if the stool is particularly watery or there is an admixture of blood in it.

Infections of the digestive system - treatment

Therapy of infectious lesions of the digestive tract is carried out in a stationary infectious diseases department. Sometimes doctors manage to quickly identify the pathogen that caused the ailment, but quite often the cause of the disease remains unknown.

With food poisoning, mandatory gastric lavage is carried out as in case of poisoning. Competent rehydration therapy (intravenous and / or oral) is carried out. For intravenous administration, Trisol, Quartasol or Chlosol solutions are used, in some cases colloidal solutions are used - Gemodez or Reopoliglyukin. With oral rehydration, preference is given to Regidron (instructions for the use of each drug before using it must be studied personally from the official annotation included in the package!).

Doctors can decide on taking measures to stop the diarrheal syndrome. For this purpose, Indamethacin is often used (for one, sometimes two days), this remedy also helps to eliminate cardiodynamic disorders that are often observed in infections of the digestive tract, especially with salmonellosis.
In parallel, the administration of calcium preparations in combination with vitamin D2 is often practiced, which also helps to reduce diarrhea.

Various sorbents also become the drugs of choice for infections of the digestive tract - the well-known activated carbon, Karbolen, Karbolong, Polypefan, Diosmectite, Attapulgite, etc.

To correct diarrhea, drugs from the opiate group, represented by Loperamide and Trimebutane, can also be used, and the use of atropine-containing antidiarrheals, Lispafen and Reasek, is also often practiced.
In especially severe cases, bismuth is used in large dosages to treat diarrhea.

Intestinal antiseptics (Nifuroxazid, Enterosediv, Intestopan, etc.) and antibacterial drugs (most often aminopenicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, carbapenems, aminglycosides, etc.) can be used to directly eliminate the causative agent of digestive tract infections.

Patients with infections of the digestive tract are shown to take funds to normalize the intestinal flora. These include eubiotics and probiotics. The drugs of choice are most often Bifidumbacterin forte, Baktisuptil, Acipol, etc.

The choice of treatment regimen for infections of the digestive tract is carried out exclusively by a qualified specialist after assessing the patient's condition.

Folk remedies

Medicines based on herbs and improvised means can also contribute to the treatment of infections of the digestive tract, but they can be used only after consulting a doctor.

So patients with symptoms of infection will benefit from the plant St. John's wort. A tablespoon of its crushed raw materials should be brewed with a glass of only boiled water. Boil such a remedy in a water bath for half an hour, then strain and dilute with cool water to the initial volume. Take the finished medicine in a third of a glass immediately before a meal. Keep it in the refrigerator.

Gastroenterology

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Gastroenterology- a special discipline dealing with the study of the structure, physiology and pathology of the digestive system, as well as the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system. There are narrower sections inside gastroenterology: for example, liver and gallbladder diseases are studied by hepatology, pathology of the large intestine and pararectal space - proctology. The state of the endocrine system, the oral cavity, the presence of infectious agents in the body has a great influence on the normal activity of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

The digestive system includes a combination of many organs and glands that provide the nutrients necessary for the body to develop and live. It permeates almost the entire body, starting with the oral cavity and ending with the rectum. Therefore, the pathology of even one of the digestive organs entails a disorder in the functioning of the digestive system as a whole. Modern ecology, stress, new foods and supplements, as well as drugs cause the occurrence or exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, cholelithiasis, ulcerative colitis. A serious problem of modern society is intestinal dysbacteriosis, which occurs in the vast majority of people, including newborns.

Diseases of the stomach, pancreas, intestines are often the root cause of many diseases of the skin and metabolism. Symptoms of diseases of the digestive system are very diverse and depend on the affected organ. Common manifestations are a violation of appetite, abdominal pain, belching, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, stool disorder, weakness, weight loss.