Symptoms include blood on or mixed in with the stool, a change in normal bowel habits, narrowing of the stool, abdominal pain, weight loss, or constant tiredness.
Extreme tiredness (fatigue) Malabsorption of nutrients. Oily or foul-smelling stool (steatorrhea) Poor appetite.
Diarrhea (sometimes alternating with constipation) or urgent need to poop (bowel urgency). Gas and bloating. Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss. Mucus or blood in stool.
Intestinal problems, such as polyps and cancer, infections, celiac disease, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, malabsorption, short bowel syndrome, and intestinal ischemia. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, and hiatal hernia.
IBS is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.
The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected, but now doctors know that these factors may aggravate but aren't the cause of IBD . One possible cause is an immune system malfunction.
Based on visual observation, the ancients characterised inflammation by five cardinal signs, namely redness (rubor), swelling (tumour), heat (calor; only applicable to the body' extremities), pain (dolor) and loss of function (functio laesa).
Anti-inflammatories include aminosalicylates, such as mesalamine (Delzicol, Rowasa, others), balsalazide (Colazal) and olsalazine (Dipentum). Time-limited courses of corticosteroids are also used to induce remission. In addition to being anti-inflammatory, steroids are immunosuppressing.
The pain that Crohn's patients feel tends to be crampy. It often appears in the lower right abdomen but can happen anywhere along the digestive tract. “It depends on where that inflammatory process is happening,” says Nana Bernasko, DNP, gastroenterology expert with the American Gastroenterological Association.
Call your doctor if you have any of these digestive symptoms: Chronic or unusual abdominal pain. Persistent or severe heartburn. Difficulty swallowing.
Some digestive diseases can be life-threatening, especially if left untreated. These include inflammatory bowel disease, cirrhosis, gastrointestinal cancers, hepatitis, blocked flow of blood to the intestines, and perforated intestines or stomach.
A bowel blockage can stop blood flow, causing part of the intestine to die. As pressure builds up from the blockage, intestinal bacteria can leak into the bloodstream. You may develop peritonitis, an abdominal infection. You are also at risk for a life-threatening system-wide infection called sepsis.
Infection inside your belly (abdominal infection) Cancers of the digestive system. Bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or diverticulitis. Disorders that make your blood more prone to clotting (hypercoagulation disorders), such as an inherited clotting disorder.
Bowel infections can be caused by viruses (such as the rotavirus), bacteria (e.g. salmonella) and parasites (e.g. giardia). You should see your doctor if symptoms are severe, you have a fever, there's blood or mucus in you stools (poo), you have signs of dehydration or if diarrhoea has lasted more than 2 or 3 days.
If the pain in your abdominal region is dull and persistent or sudden and severe and is also accompanied by vomiting, that's another major red flag. The combination of abdominal pain and vomiting – especially if the vomiting is intense and lasts for a prolonged period of time – could be a sign of a major complication.
When to see a healthcare professional. Seek professional guidance if any change in bowel movements has persisted for more than a few days. Even minor changes, such as constipation or diarrhea, can indicate a health issue. If more severe symptoms occur, consult a healthcare professional immediately.
"Any time you see blood in your stool or have rectal bleeding that is accompanied by changes in your bowel habits or to the color or consistency of your stool, it's critical that you see a gastroenterologist," warns Dr. Glassner.
The symptoms can come on gradually, but they can also show up suddenly. And these can include diarrhea, fever, fatigue, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in your stool, mouth sores, reduced appetite and weight loss.
Crohn's disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. Inflammation can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the back passage. But it mostly occurs in the last section of the small intestine (ileum) or the large intestine (colon).
Belly pain from ulcerative colitis can feel crampy, like a charley horse in your gut. It can happen before a bowel movement or while you're going. Other parts of your body might hurt as well. Some people with the disease have sore joints.