What are the types of gastrointestinal diseases? Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Treatment of stomach problems

Intestinal infection is a dangerous disease that affects every person sooner or later. The presented disease includes a large number of pathological processes that negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract. The disease often occurs due to the presence of viruses, toxins and bacteria in the body. Signs of the disease vary significantly depending on its severity.

What contributes to the occurrence of the disease?

If the body is affected by viruses and bacteria, then this is fraught with the formation of diseases such as:

• Escherichiosis;
• klebsiellosis;
• dysentery;
• salmonellosis;
• diarrhea;
• staphylococcal infection.

All of the presented pathological processes cause intestinal infections. In addition, the development of this disease is influenced by failure to comply with personal hygiene rules, eating dirty fruits and vegetables, and replenishing the body with water that contains harmful microorganisms. They move from the esophagus through the stomach and into the intestines.

How does the disease manifest in adults?

There are cases when an intestinal infection in adults does not make itself felt for a certain time, so the patient does not even suspect about this insidious illness. The most common symptoms of intestinal infection include the following:

Intestinal infections in children occur for the same reason as in adults (damage from pathogenic organisms). They primarily damage the digestive tract and are accompanied by a toxic reaction of the body.

Intestinal infection in children, like all other infectious diseases, occurs suddenly. Even in the first stages of the disease, children are visited by weakness, poor appetite, headache, fever. At first glance, all the presented signs indicate an acute respiratory infection. But after some time, the child experiences nausea and vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, diarrhea, and chills.

Acute intestinal infection

Acute intestinal infections are a type of infectious acute pathologies that arise as a result of the influence of various pathogenic agents. Acute intestinal infection manifests itself as fever and contributes to the development of further dehydration. Acute infection is especially severe in children and people of retirement age. The incubation period of the pathology lasts from 5 hours to two days.

Very often, salmonellosis begins acutely after a short feeling of discomfort in the abdomen. During this period, the patient notes the following symptoms of acute intestinal infection:

• weakness;
• feeling of nausea;
• vomit;
• increased temperature (38-39 C);
• acute intestinal infections are accompanied by painful sensations in the abdominal area, which are diffuse in nature;
• diarrhea, which is characterized by copious, watery, greenish bowel movements.

If a patient exhibits these symptoms of an acute intestinal infection, he must be hospitalized immediately. This form of intestinal infection is very often diagnosed in infants. Therefore, if you find green diarrhea or a rise in temperature in your baby, you should immediately show him to a specialist.

Intestinal flu (rotavirus infection)

Intestinal infections of this form occur due to the presence of rotaviruses in the body. The irritation process occurs through food, water and hands. Rotavirus infection begins to form after bacteria have invaded the cells of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. As a result, it increases motor activity, which contributes to feelings of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The disease begins to manifest itself even before the viruses multiply in the required quantity to cause intestinal irritation. This incubation period, its duration is about 5 days.

Effective therapy

Treatment of intestinal infection should involve an integrated approach. In addition to stopping harmful microbes, the patient needs to neutralize toxins and restore water balance.

Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea release harmful substances from the body, so there is no need to restrain yourself. On the contrary, during this period they even call her. Treatment of intestinal infection cannot be done without intestinal lavage. This procedure is performed using an enema. It is also necessary to treat the disease with the help of sorbents that neutralize the negative effects of toxins. The most effective are:

• Smecta;
• Polyphepan;
• Attapulgite.

During the period of intestinal infection, patients benefit from fasting. The reason is that food can cause bacteria to develop. Rice and oatmeal no added salt. They have a calming effect on the intestines.

It is indicated to treat intestinal infections with a solution of rehydron or behydron. These medications help restore electrolyte balance during illness. They are taken in a couple of sips every 10 minutes. During an intestinal infection, the patient needs to drink more fluids. The best option There will be dried fruit compote and various herbal teas.

As for antibiotics for intestinal infections, it is not recommended to use them immediately after the onset of the first symptoms. They have a negative impact on the intestinal microflora and the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of intestinal infection with antibiotics can only be prescribed by the attending physician. It is allowed to treat the disease with such modern drugs as Linex and Lactobacterin.

It is also not recommended to treat an intestinal infection on your own during a period when the patient has severe and debilitating vomiting, as a result of which he cannot drink, has a high fever, and there are blood impurities in the feces.

Treatment of the disease in children

If an intestinal infection in a child is accompanied by severe diarrhea and vomiting, then it is necessary to immediately take action and treat the resulting illness. The most common mistake parents make when treating an intestinal infection is to stop the unwanted symptoms of the disease. It is not recommended to do this in the first hours, since vomiting and diarrhea are a protective reaction of the body, as a result of which the body tries to eliminate toxins on its own.

If these manifestations are stopped during the treatment of intestinal infections in children, this will lead to even greater intoxication. In addition, if parents know exactly what their baby has eaten and the rise in temperature and abdominal pain are caused by this, then in order to effectively treat an intestinal infection, vomiting or bowel movements should be provoked.

During such events, it is very important to constantly replenish the loss of fluid and mineral salts. Therefore, when treating intestinal infections in children, parents should ensure that they take plenty of fluids. To do this, you need to give him special solutions, powders that are sold in pharmacies. It is forbidden to give your child juices and dairy products.

IN complex therapy intestinal infections, the drug Macmiror ® has proven itself well. It has a wide spectrum of action and is active against most pathogens of intestinal disorders. Unlike other nitrofuans, Makmiror ® is effective against intestinal infections of invasive and non-invasive types. The drug has antiprotozoal, antifungal and antibacterial effects 1. With high efficiency, Makmiror ® has low toxicity compared to other analogues. This makes its use convenient for adults, and especially for children.

Nutrition

If the disease is mild, then to treat an intestinal infection, the diet involves only reducing the amount of food. If the disease is in a moderate form, then food is reduced by 30-50%, and the number of meals should be 5-8 times a day.

The diet for intestinal infections in children under 4 months should exclude the use of fermented milk mixtures. In case of acute illness, treatment of intestinal infection with a diet in infants involves the use of mixtures enriched with protective factors: bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and dietary supplements.

When treating an intestinal infection with diet, adults are prohibited from consuming the following foods:

• whole milk;
• black bread;
• yoghurts;
• fermented baked milk;
• cream;
• beets;
• legumes;
• citrus;
• meat and fish broths.

If the development of an intestinal infection in a child early age is accompanied by the occurrence of protein deficiency, it is corrected from the 3rd day of the disease with mixtures containing this element. When the exocrine function of the pancreas is impaired and malabsorption syndrome develops, then effective treatment intestinal infections in young patients are medicinal mixtures.

Prevention measures

Prevention of intestinal infections is measures that help protect your body from this disease. To do this you need to follow these simple rules:

• wash your hands before eating;
• do not eat sweets with cream during hot weather;
• store meat and fish in the refrigerator;
• thoroughly wash fruits, berries and vegetables;
• consume only fresh meat and milk;
• drink boiled or mineral water.

Intestinal infection is a pathological process that can affect not only adults, but also children. This disease can be eliminated if you strictly adhere to the treatment regimen drawn up by your doctor.

1 - Instructions for medical use drug Makmiror ®

Symptoms of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and diseases leading to the manifestation of these symptoms. This page contains brief information; for more complete information on a specific symptom, go to the section or use the site search.

Heartburn

Heartburn is an unpleasant burning sensation along the esophagus, starting from the area of ​​the xiphoid process, spreading upward. It is associated with the reflux of stomach contents, which have an acidic reaction, into the esophagus. The appearance of heartburn is facilitated by increased sensitivity of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, increased activity of the cardiac part of the stomach, as well as spasm of the pylorus - the part connecting the stomach and duodenum.

More often, heartburn appears against the background of increased acidity of gastric juice, but it can also occur with hypochlorhydria (lack of hydrochloric acid). Heartburn always accompanies reflux esophagitis and often occurs with gastric ulcers. Sometimes heartburn occurs with cholecystitis, during pregnancy. Some food intolerances can also cause heartburn.

Flatulence

Flatulence is bloating of the intestines, accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. It appears when gases accumulate in the lumen of the small or large intestine.

Normally, gases from the intestine are absorbed through the intestinal wall and then released through the lungs, some of the gases are eliminated through the rectum. With inflammation of the intestinal wall and venous stagnation, gas accumulation occurs. Therefore, flatulence is an early manifestation of portal hypertension syndrome.

With insufficient activity of enzymes that break down carbohydrates, fermentation processes in the intestines intensify. Flatulence after drinking milk is characteristic of lactase deficiency. Bloating after eating vegetables (potatoes, cabbage) is a sign of digestive disorders in the initial part of the large intestine.

Intestinal stenosis (for example, a tumor) is manifested by flatulence in a certain area, which disappears after rumbling in the intestines. Bloating in the left half of the abdomen is characteristic of megacolon. This symptom is usually pronounced in irritable bowel syndrome.

Sometimes flatulence is of a psychogenic nature or is associated with excessive swallowing of air (aerophagia).

Nausea

Nausea is an unpleasant feeling in the epigastric region, chest, oral cavity, accompanied by salivation, often weakness and decreased blood pressure. Nausea is associated with stimulation of the vomiting center. Nausea in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is a reflex and is associated with irritation of receptors in the walls of the stomach and biliary tract.

Nausea can have a variety of causes. In particular, it is a symptom of diseases of the digestive system, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, stomach cancer, hepatitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis.

Vomit

Vomiting is a complex reflex process that leads to the removal of gastric contents through the mouth. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting has the same causes as nausea. Nausea and vomiting are nonspecific symptoms that occur with many other diseases. Vomiting is dangerous due to the possibility of gastric bleeding. In addition, frequent vomiting causes dehydration and disruption of electrolyte balance and acid-base balance. As a result, the activity of internal organs is disrupted.

Belching

Belching is the release of gases from the stomach and esophagus through the mouth. It occurs when the diaphragm contracts. Belching air occurs with aerophagia - swallowing air. It can appear in healthy individuals after overeating or after drinking carbonated drinks.

Frequent belching may be a symptom of insufficiency of the cardia - the upper part of the stomach. It appears with a hiatal hernia, a bend in the stomach, or pyloric stenosis.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a violation of swallowing at the level of the oral cavity, pharynx or esophagus, accompanied by a feeling of stopping the food bolus, sometimes accompanied by pain. Most often, dysphagia is a sign of esophageal disease. It can be a manifestation of organic lesions (ulcers, tumors, consequences of a burn of the esophagus, esophagitis, achalasia cardia, foreign bodies of the esophagus). In other cases, dysphagia is associated with external compression of the esophagus due to tumors of the mediastinum, enlargement of the thyroid gland, and aortic aneurysm.

Bitterness in the mouth

Bitterness in the mouth is one of the signs of hepatic dyspepsia. Its appearance is associated with impaired movement (motility) of the gallbladder, biliary tract, duodenum, stomach, and esophagus. Most often, bitterness in the mouth is a symptom of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and tumors of the hepatobiliary zone. It also occurs in gastritis and peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.

Bad breath

Bad breath may be a consequence of oral pathology (halitosis).

It can be a symptom of indigestion due to stomach diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, diverticulum of the esophagus or stomach. The smell may be sour or resemble hydrogen sulfide.

The smell of bitterness occurs with diseases of the gallbladder. The smell of feces from the mouth usually indicates a severe pathology, such as intestinal obstruction.

Pathological impurities in feces

Pathological impurities in feces are substances that are normally contained in small quantities or are absent altogether. This is blood, mucus, remains of undigested food.

Residues of undigested food in the stool are usually the result of inflammatory diseases of the small intestine (enteritis). They are accompanied by an increase in the amount of feces, its dilution, and increased frequency of bowel movements.

An admixture of blood and mucus is characteristic of diseases of the colon and rectum, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Also, an admixture of blood and mucus can be a symptom of a colon tumor. Bright, unchanged blood appears with anal fissures and hemorrhoids.

Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain can accompany any disease of the digestive system. If the source of pain is hollow organs (stomach, intestines), it can be caused by spasm of smooth muscles or stretching of the walls of the organ due to blood flow disorders and inflammatory diseases. When a non-hollow organ is damaged (liver, pancreas), pain is associated primarily with stretching of the capsule of this organ as its size increases.

The main diseases of the digestive system, which cause abdominal pain:

• stomach diseases (gastritis, pyloric stenosis, peptic ulcer, tumor);
• diseases of the duodenum (peptic ulcer, tumor, megaduodenum);
• intestinal diseases (appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, enteritis, colitis, tumors, diverticula);
• diseases of the liver and pancreas (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, tumors of these organs).

Constipation

Constipation is a rare difficulty in bowel movement, often accompanied by excessive hardness of stool, pain, and flatulence. You can talk about constipation when you have bowel movements less than 3 times a week. Constipation is associated with impaired colon motility due to a disorder in the regulation of intestinal activity. Another mechanism of constipation is a violation of the act of defecation due to pathology of the rectum.

Types of constipation:

• nutritional (associated with the consumption of predominantly protein foods, certain foods);
• neurogenic (for organic diseases nervous system);
• hypodynamic;
• inflammatory (for colitis);
• proctogenic (for diseases of the rectum);
• mechanical (intestinal tumors, intestinal developmental anomalies);
• toxic;
• medicinal;
• endocrine.

Constipation in children can be organic and functional. Organic is associated with anatomical disorders of the intestinal structure and manifests itself from birth. Organic constipation can occur as a result of intestinal surgery.

Functional constipation is quite common. Its criteria are not fully defined. It is believed that a child may not have bowel movements every day, but it should not be accompanied by discomfort during defecation, impurities in the feces, changes in its shape, or developmental disorders of the child. Physiological constipation can appear when a nursing mother changes her diet, lacks water in the child’s diet, or improperly introduces complementary foods. It can be a consequence of diseases such as rickets, hypothyroidism, food allergies, anemia, and helminthic infestation. In older children, constipation can occur when the child consciously suppresses the act of defecation, for example, while in kindergarten.

Rumbling in the stomach

Rumbling in the stomach can occur in a healthy, hungry person, as well as after overeating or drinking carbonated drinks.

This phenomenon may be a symptom of diseases associated with impaired motility of the stomach and intestines, as well as with excessive gas formation in the intestinal lumen. Rumbling appears with gastritis, peptic ulcers, enteritis and colitis. It may indicate excessive growth of pathogenic intestinal flora due to dysbiosis or be a manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is frequent bowel movements, accompanied by an increase in the volume of feces and their dilution. Its occurrence is associated with the accelerated passage of feces through the intestines and slower absorption of fluid from it. The most common cause of diarrhea is inflammation of the intestines of a viral or bacterial nature (enteritis, colitis).

Diarrhea can occur due to digestive disorders (pancreatitis, cholestasis). Sometimes diarrhea is a consequence of taking certain medicines. It may be associated with a disorder of neurohumoral regulation of intestinal activity.

Chronic diarrhea can be a symptom of almost all intestinal diseases.

Diarrhea in children is most often a consequence of an intestinal infection of a viral or bacterial nature. It can also be a symptom of lactase deficiency or food allergies. In some cases, diarrhea appears due to biliary dyskinesia in a child, as well as against the background stressful situations(eg teething).

Jaundice

Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin, conjunctiva and sclera of the eyes and other tissues. It can be a sign of many diseases. In many cases, jaundice occurs due to liver diseases accompanied by impaired liver function (hepatitis, cirrhosis). Other causes of jaundice may be disturbances in the outflow of bile through the biliary tract due to cholangitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and tumors of the hepatobiliary zone.

Jaundice is often accompanied by severe skin itching, weakness, and dysfunction of the central nervous system. Some forms of jaundice are accompanied by discoloration of stool and dark urine. Hemolytic jaundice is also noted, which is associated with blood pathology, and not with damage to the digestive organs.

Itchy skin

Itchy skin can be a symptom of various diseases of the blood, kidneys, liver, endocrine diseases and many other conditions. Generalized skin itching often accompanies liver disease, in particular primary biliary cirrhosis. It is a symptom of liver failure. Skin itching appears with cancer of the head of the pancreas and other conditions that cause obstructive jaundice (cholelithiasis, cholangitis).

Hiccups

The appearance of hiccups is associated with irritation of the diaphragm and its sharp reflex contraction. Hiccups are most often not a symptom of digestive diseases. It occurs with pericarditis, pleurisy, ascites, peritonitis. Hiccups can be one of the symptoms of diaphragmatic hernia and intestinal obstruction.

Language changes

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by neurotrophic disorders or leading to the development of intoxication, a coating appears on the tongue. Usually it is white or grayish, less often yellow. Plaque on the tongue occurs with gastritis, peptic ulcers, stomach tumors, enterocolitis and many other diseases.

Swelling of the tongue is more common in intestinal diseases with impaired water-salt metabolism, primarily with enteritis and colitis.

In some diseases, the appearance of the tongue changes due to changes in the papillary apparatus. So, with gastritis, peptic ulcer, accompanied by increased acidity, hyperplastic glossitis is formed with an increase and proliferation of the papillae of the tongue. With gastritis and peptic ulcers, as well as with diseases of the small intestine and biliary tract, atrophic glossitis can form, in which atrophy of the papillae occurs, and the tongue takes on a “varnished” appearance.

In diseases of the digestive system, ulcerative and desquamative lesions of the tongue and oral cavity, changes in taste sensitivity, and paresthesia (burning, tingling in the tongue) may appear.

Increased body temperature

Fever accompanies infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily intestinal infections. It can be a symptom of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. An increase in body temperature is observed in acute surgical pathology (appendicitis, peritonitis). It can accompany acute inflammatory processes in other parts (acute cholecystitis).

Tenesmus

Tenesmus is a painful urge to defecate, which is accompanied by the release of a minimal amount of feces. They appear in infectious colitis (for example, dysentery), ulcerative colitis, sigmoiditis, proctitis, tumors of the sigmoid and rectum. Tenesmus occurs with hemorrhoids and anal fissures. In children they can be a symptom of trichuriasis.

Tenesmus is often accompanied by erosions, cracks, itching in the anus, as well as prolapse of the rectal mucosa.

Salivation disorders

Increased salivation is most often not a symptom of damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes it can be accompanied by stomatitis or helminthic infestation.

Mental disorders

With a long, severe course of diseases of the digestive organs, patients may develop disorders mental state. Most often they manifest themselves as increased fatigue, tearfulness, and emotional lability. Sometimes vegetative-vascular disorders occur in the form of hypertensive crises and fainting. Prolonged headaches and radicular pains and symptoms of polyneuritis are not uncommon.

Such disorders may appear in patients with peptic ulcer, achalasia cardia, hypochlorhydria, colitis and gastritis.

There are forms of mental disorders manifested by changes in eating behavior - anorexia and bulimia. In this case, eating disorders are a consequence of mental illness.

Weight loss

Weight loss occurs when there are swallowing problems, such as narrowing or swelling of the esophagus.

Digestive disorders are also accompanied by weight loss. It may be caused by impaired digestion due to gastritis, peptic ulcers, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver. In addition, digestive disorders can be caused by decreased absorption of nutrients in celiac disease, enteritis and colitis of various etiologies.

Tumors of the gastrointestinal tract cause metabolic disorders and intoxication, which also leads to weight loss.

Weight loss occurs with a mental disorder such as anorexia nervosa. Worm infestations lead to weight loss.

Itching of the anus

Itching of the anus is a symptom of many diseases of the rectum, such as proctosigmoiditis, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, polyps, anorectal fistulas. The occurrence of itching in children is most often caused by helminthic infestations, in particular pinworms, roundworms or giardia.

Itching in the anus can occur in any condition accompanied by diarrhea and disruption of the normal intestinal microflora.

Itching in the anus can be a symptom of many other diseases not related to the digestive system.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are a widespread group of diseases. It includes pathology of the digestive system from the oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus to the anal sphincter. The increase in incidence in this group is provoked by errors in nutrition, consumption of food containing preservatives and flavorings. The ubiquity of such disorders has brought gastrointestinal diseases to a leading position. After 30 years, ¼ of the population suffers from one or more diseases of the digestive tract.

Symptoms

Gastrointestinal diseases differ in their causes, location, treatment methods and other symptoms. There are many organs that make up the digestive system, and there are just as many manifestations of their diseases. Pathology digestive system can be suspected if the following signs are detected:

• Stomach ache. This symptom can occur in any part of the abdomen, radiate to the groin, chest etc. Most often, pain is localized in the projection of the organ in which the pathological process has developed. The pain may be minor or of high intensity. The nature of the pain varies from dull, pulling to cramping, spastic. Pain can be caused by food (peptic ulcer) or lack of food (duodenal ulcer).
• Belching. The release of gases from the stomach into the oral cavity can accompany not only gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, GERD, etc.), but also neurological changes (aerophagia).
• Heartburn. Warmth, burning and burning behind the breastbone occur when stomach contents enter the esophagus. In this case, GERD occurs - gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is caused by acid-dependent diseases.
• Nausea and vomiting. They occur both in the presence of an infectious component in the development of the disease and in chronic diseases (gastritis, pancreatitis, etc.). If blood or bloody clots appear in the vomit, this is a sign of bleeding.
• Flatulence. Increased gas production or insufficient gas evacuation from the intestines leads to bloating and a feeling of fullness. This symptom can occur with dysbiosis, pancreatitis, enterocolitis and many other diseases. It can be triggered by eating foods high in fiber, legumes, carbonated water and coffee.
• Diarrhea. Rapid loose stool observed when the production of enzymes is disrupted, when food is insufficiently digested, when it moves too quickly through the intestines, when a large amount of mucus is released, etc. Diarrhea can be caused by pancreatitis, enteritis, colitis, dysbacteriosis, etc.
• Constipation. Irregular bowel movements can occur with colitis, colorectal cancer, and may be a consequence of surgical treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Melena. Black stools with a semi-liquid consistency are a sign of bleeding. It can occur both with peptic ulcers and with cancer.
• Unusual taste in the mouth. A bitter or sour taste may indicate biliary dyskinesia, gastritis, GERD, etc.
• Bad breath. It can be observed both in diseases of the liver and stomach.
• Decreased appetite.
• Loss of body weight.
• Weakness, dizziness, pale skin.
• Cough in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is quite rare. It is unproductive, dry and not relieved by conventional respiratory medications. Cough occurs reflexively, with irritation of the reflexogenic zones of the gastrointestinal tract.

These symptoms occur alone or in combination with each other. The diagnostic search begins with an analysis of their manifestation.

Disease Prevention

It is possible to prevent the development of diseases of the digestive system or its exacerbation. To do this you need:

Due to the fact that the list of gastrointestinal diseases includes different pathologies, they are treated with different, sometimes opposite, means.

• The diet for most diseases consists of balanced diet, including chemically, thermally and physically gentle food. Soups, porridges, steamed cutlets, boiled, grilled, stewed, chopped and boiled are the basis of the menu for patients with gastrointestinal pathology. At acute pancreatitis A fasting diet is recommended. For diarrhea, the menu is dominated by rice, jelly and chokeberry. With constipation, the proportion of vegetables, fruits and vegetable oil. Alcoholic drinks, coffee, fatty, fried, spicy, spicy, seasonings, sauces, fast food, canned food, sausages and semi-finished products are excluded from the diet.
• Plants used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract number more than a hundred names. Prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the diagnosis.
• Mineral waters.
• Medicines.
• Physiotherapeutic treatment.
• Surgical treatment.

Flatulence

One of the most common symptoms of various stomach and intestinal disorders is flatulence, or in other words, bloating. This is a condition in which a sick person, due to excessive accumulation of gases, feels distension inside himself. As a rule, flatulence is accompanied by pain in the form of contractions, which subside after they subside. The condition is also characterized by a feeling of unprecedented heaviness and often manifests itself along with hiccups and belching.

Nausea

Vomit

A very unpleasant phenomenon that is an involuntary release through the throat and mouth of everything that was in the stomach. As a rule, it is accompanied by rapid breathing, sharp abdominal pain, and increased salivation. True, after the release of vomit, the patient feels relief. Vomiting is usually a sign of many diseases and poisonings. It happens that it is not possible to stop it without the intervention of medical workers.

Therefore, it is important to understand that prolonged vomiting is a very serious symptom, so self-medication in in this case It is strictly prohibited to practice. Especially if what comes out has impurities of mucus, blood or bile.

By the way, vomiting can occur even with strong excitement or a surge of emotions. For many women in position early stages This is generally normal.

Heartburn

This irritating symptom appears when the patient experiences an excessive release of gastric juice, that is, increased acidity. Heartburn is a kind of uncomfortable burning sensation in the upper part of the esophagus. Sometimes people suffering from heartburn feel a lump in the throat, which puts a lot of pressure and causes very unpleasant sensations. They especially annoy a patient with gastrointestinal disorders when a person bends down to pick up or do something. In this position of the body it only intensifies and irritates even more.

But keep in mind that something as common as heartburn can cause holes in the stomach, intestines (ulcers) and even cancer of the digestive system.

Bad breath

Every inhabitant of the planet faces this problem. The fact is that bad breath, as a rule, occurs when a person is extremely hungry... we are not talking about non-compliance with hygienic measures now. In another way, this condition is also called halitosis.

The development of this unpleasant symptom is facilitated by various ailments of the gastrointestinal tract. And both in adults and children. Foul-smelling breath usually occurs in patients with gastritis, peptic ulcers, problems with the pancreas, namely in a state of acetone syndrome and other diseases. In general, doctors have calculated that in 50% of cases, bad breath occurs when there are certain disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Salivation disorders

Xerostomia or difficulty salivating, as well as vice versa - an increased secretory reflex - is a mandatory accompaniment of many gastrointestinal disorders. Particularly impaired salivary secretion occurs when a person has gastritis, certain types of cholecystitis and other similar pathologies. Also, increased salivation can occur with ulcers, inflammation of the pancreas, etc.

Such an unpleasant symptom most often manifests itself with accompanying symptoms - heartburn or belching, which only indicates that a person is developing a pathology of the digestive system. Usually, problems with salivation go away on their own, as soon as the patient’s period of exacerbation of the disease begins to subside.

Language changes

This sign of gastrointestinal pathologies is the most common and, as a rule, occurs with gastritis, ulcers and other digestive ailments. It is simply impossible not to notice changes in the oral cavity. Indeed, with such disorders, plaque, hyperemia, swelling, or even peculiar wounds appear on the tongue. The color of this organ also changes - in the presence of diseases of the stomach and intestines, it can acquire a grayish tint or very white with a characteristic yellowness. So, in the presence of an ulcer, the patient’s tongue develops a strong coating and swelling, and with gastritis, this is also accompanied by hypertrophy of the fungiform papillae - small dots on its surface.

It is believed that changes on the lingual surface in the mouth are the most early symptom, which indicates the development of bad gastrointestinal pathologies in the body.

Hiccups

Specific contractions of the diaphragm, characterized by the involuntary expulsion of excess air that entered the stomach along with food or resulting from increased gas formation. Therefore, hiccups are one of the main symptoms of many gastrointestinal disorders, for example, the stomach is full of food or severe intoxication. In any case, if the hiccups are not long-lasting, then apart from unpleasant sensations and annoyance, they will not cause much trouble. But when such a physiological reaction is too long and exhausting, it is better to contact a gastroenterologist and undergo an appropriate examination.

Bitterness in the mouth

One of the unpleasant manifestations of digestive pathologies. Its presence, whether constant or rare, is another reason to seek medical help. After all, a bitter taste in the mouth is associated with disruption of the gallbladder or liver problems. Most often it occurs with cholecystitis and pancreatitis, indicating that bile is released into the stomach. This symptom is also characteristic of peptic ulcer disease.

Itchy skin

Like the above, this phenomenon is also a symptom of disorders in the digestive system. As a rule, skin itching occurs due to pathologies of the kidneys, liver, pancreas, damage by worms or disturbances in the metabolic processes of the body. An itchy lesion can occur in one place or spread to several points.

Therefore, as soon as you notice such a “need” in yourself, you need to be examined in order to identify the disease at the initial stage. Although, if skin itching continues for a long time, this may indicate chronic ailments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Jaundice

It appears when, as a result of the development of gastrointestinal pathologies, the outflow of bile from the biliary tract into the duodenum is disrupted. At the same time, it simply stagnates and bilirubin (bile pigment) enters the blood, turning the skin and sclera of the eyes a characteristic yellow color.

A common occurrence in disorders of the human digestive system. Characterized by frequent, mostly watery bowel movements. A patient's diarrhea occurs when food, being poorly digested, moves very quickly through the gastrointestinal tract without having time to be absorbed properly. This condition is usually caused by viruses and bacteria present in the inflamed intestine. And a similar manifestation accompanies pancreatitis, intoxication or cholestasis.

By the way, diarrhea is also a symptom of other disorders of the human body, for example, stress, a change in climate or diet, or taking certain medications. In any case, such an important sign cannot be ignored, because it can provoke an even more serious illness.

Rumbling in the stomach

Every person encounters this symptom. We are accustomed to thinking that rumbling indicates that a person is hungry. But sometimes such specific sounds from the abdomen indicate the occurrence of a serious illness.

Usually the cause of annoying rumbling is a disease of the gallbladder (the presence of stones in it), colitis, enteritis, or again pancreatitis.

That is, this phenomenon is a kind of accompaniment of the above-mentioned symptoms of esophageal diseases - flatulence, diarrhea, etc. Depending on which area of ​​the abdomen you feel rumbling sounds, you can pre-diagnose one or another gastrointestinal pathology.

Constipation

Disorders in the digestive tract can sometimes be accompanied by difficult bowel movements - constipation. You should pay attention to this if you have not had a bowel movement for more than 48 hours. Constipation is also considered to be the discharge of very hard stool, which comes out with very severe and unpleasant pain.

There are many reasons for this state of the body, but the most common of them are stomach or duodenal ulcers, dysbacteriosis, oncological diseases Gastrointestinal tract, or irritable bowel syndrome.

Abdominal pain

In general, with characteristic diseases of the entire digestive system, the very first sign indicating digestive disorders is the so-called epigastric pain. As a rule, they appear with serious disorders and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, and with the slightest disorder or poisoning. Abdominal pain can be either cramping or aching in nature.

Their presence can indicate many things: a peptic ulcer, enlargement or damage to the liver, and the fact that the intestines or bile ducts in the patient’s body are too active.

Itching of the anus

But if you feel pain in the abdomen, and at the same time you are bothered by itching near the anus, look for the cause in the intestines. The most likely cause is diseases of the rectum and anus itself. If your anus itself and the area around it are constantly irritated, then these may well be warts or condylomas, which, during bowel movements, get touched by feces and begin to itch. The most common cause of this depressing phenomenon is, of course, worms.

Pathological impurities in feces

But the appearance of this symptom already indicates more serious ailments. In modern medicine, these include pieces of undigested food, mucus, blood, and pus. The last two “contents” in the stool of a sick person indicate a violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane of the esophagus. Also, blood and pus may be present in the stool when a person has dysentery, has an ulcer, hemorrhoids, or a fissure in the rectum.

That's enough serious symptom which requires immediate medical attention.

Tenesmus or false urges

This is also characteristic feature disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. It occurs as a result of disturbances in muscle contractions and contributes to the formation of the urge to defecate. As a rule, apart from pain, they do not bring anything good to the patient and are accompanied by a complete absence of feces.

Belching

A common and characteristic phenomenon for every person. This is a kind of release of excess gases from the stomach through the mouth when it is saturated with food. It is accompanied by a characteristic unpleasant sound, which indicates not only the patient’s bad manners, but also the presence of gastrointestinal diseases.

Although it is also present in pathologies of the cardiovascular, liver and gall bladder.

Dysphagia

This is also an important symptom of digestive pathologies. It causes difficulty swallowing. The causes may be various lesions of the esophagus: foreign bodies, cicatricial narrowings or tumors. But the most common cause of this phenomenon is gastroesophageal reflux disease, which also requires medical intervention.