Watermelon stomach is a condition in which the lining of the stomach bleeds, causing it to look like the characteristic stripes of a watermelon when viewed by endoscopy. Although it can develop in men and women of all ages, watermelon stomach is most commonly observed in older women (over age 70 years).
Watermelon diseases are caused by microorganisms (pathogens) that include fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. Abiotic disease are caused by environmental conditions, such as soil imbalances (nutrients or pH), soil moisture extremes and chemical injuries (herbicide drift, air pollution, etc.).
The prognosis or long-term outlook for people with watermelon stomach varies. Some people have continued or recurring gastrointestinal bleeding, even with treatment. These cases are often considered "transfusion-dependent", since regular blood transfusions are usually necessary.
Surgery may be necessary for people who do not respond to medicinal or endoscopic treatments. Surgery for watermelon stomach can involve removing affected parts of the stomach. Having surgery is the only reliable way to cure watermelon stomach. It can also eliminate the need for blood transfusions.
Engorged blood vessels in the lining of the lower part of the stomach often form as red stripes, and resemble the dark green and light green stripes on the outside of a watermelon. These blood vessels are prone to bleeding into the stomach.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Abstract. Introduction: Watermelon stomach (WS) or gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding described in a variety of autoimmune disorders.
Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) syndrome, also known as watermelon stomach, is a rare but significant cause of severe acute or chronic gastrointestinal blood loss in the elderly.
Survival analysis in those with and without GAVE (Fig.
Time to death from GAVE diagnosis was 7.7 (3.5–11.3) years.
But, if you eat too much watermelon, it can cause bloating, gas, flatulence, diarrhea, and other such stomach troubles. This is majorly due to the presence of sorbitol, which is a sugar compound, and lycopene, which gives the fruit its bright red color. Both substances promote gas problems and loose stools.
But here's the bad news: Watermelon can also bring on big-time bloating. That's because it's packed with fructose, a natural sugar that is tough on our GI system because it's hard for it to be completely absorbed. That causes gas, and sometimes an upset stomach in some people.
Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a rare entity with unique endoscopic appearance described as “watermelon stomach.” It has been associated with systemic sclerosis but the pathophysiological changes leading to GAVE have not been explained and still remain uncertain.
Stomach pain after eating can also be attributed to gallstones, eating spicy foods, a stomach flu, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, Crohn's disease, and peptic ulcers. Stomach pain after eating may also be the result of a blocked blood vessel.
A rare condition in the general population, GAVE is characterized by small blood vessel abnormalities near the valve connecting the stomach and the small intestine. On endoscopy — a visual scan of the upper digestive system — these abnormalities resemble the stripes on a watermelon, hence the term watermelon stomach.
Control insecticide use in order not to affect beneficial insects. Control ant populations that protect aphids with sticky bands. Check weeds and alfalfa in and around the fields. Use plastic mulches that repel aphids to reduce losses due to the disease.
Components of watermelon like sorbitol and lycopene, both with its watery and fibrous nature, can aggravate flatulence, bloating, and loose stools.
The most common and recognizable symptoms of GAVE include:
General abdominal pain or discomfort.
Major treatment of GAVE includes pharmacotherapy, endoscopy, and surgery. The efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy have not been sufficiently confirmed; and surgery is just considered when conservative treatment is ineffective. By comparison, endoscopy is a common treatment option for GAVE.
Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is an uncommon but often severe cause of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, responsible of about 4% of non-variceal upper GI haemorrhage.
Menetrier disease is a rare disorder characterized by massive overgrowth of mucous cells (foveola) in the mucous membrane lining the stomach, resulting in large gastric folds. The most common symptom associated with Menetrier disease is pain in the upper middle region of the stomach (epigastric pain).
Gastroparesis (abbreviated as GP) represents a clinical syndrome characterized by sluggish emptying of solid food (and more rarely, liquid nutrients) from the stomach, which causes persistent digestive symptoms especially nausea and primarily affects young to middle-aged women, but is also known to affect younger ...
RPI Deficiency
This is considered to be the rarest disease in the world. Ribose-5-Phosphate Isomerase (RPI), is a crucial enzyme in a metabolic process in the human body. This condition can cause muscle stiffness, seizures, and reduction of white matter in the brain.
Disease at a Glance
The exact cause of Watermelon stomach is unknown; however, it is often diagnosed in people with other chronic (long-term) conditions such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver and poor liver function), autoimmune disease, systemic sclerosis, and CREST syndrome.
Foods such as red meat, dairy, pastry, and beverages containing caffeine and alcohol trigger systemic inflammation, aggravating the autoimmune disease. If you are struggling with this condition, check out the most common foods that worsen autoimmune diseases so you can avoid them altogether.
Good foods
Antioxidant foods: Berries, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables (kale, cabbage, etc.), beans, tomatoes and beets.