gastrointestinal

#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Infectious diseases

Vomiting

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Vomiting is a reflex that helps the body get rid of substances that may be harmful. Gastroenteritis — an infection of the digestive tract — is one of the most common causes of nausea and sudden vomiting. If vomiting is caused by an infection, such as gastroenteritis or food poisoning, it can often be managed at home if you stay hydrated. Vomiting due to viral gastroenteritis usually clears up without any specific treatment within 2 days Ongoing or recurrent episodes of vomiting should be investigated by your doctor. What is vomiting? Vomiting is the forceful ejection of the

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Ulcerative colitis

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune condition — this means that it’s caused by a problem with your immune system. Symptoms can include abdominal (tummy) pain, diarrhoea and blood and mucus in your stool (poo). Treatments are available to reduce the inflammation, treat your symptoms and help prevent complications. What is ulcerative colitis? Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease. It’s sometimes referred to simply as ‘colitis’. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation in your large bowel and rectum. This can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

Continue Reading
comment
#Childhood illnesses #Gastrointestinal illnesses #kid's health

Vomiting in children

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Key facts Vomiting is one of the most common reasons parents take their child to the doctor. Babies often bring up small amounts of food after feeding — it’s known as posseting or reflux, but this is different to vomiting. Vomiting in children can result from many different causes, but viral gastroenteritis is the most common cause. Babies and children are especially at risk of dehydration when they are vomiting. Children with diarrhoea and vomiting should be given small amounts of oral rehydration solution or plain water often (for example, every 15 minutes), especially if they are vomiting a lot.

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal

Abdominal pain

By Dr. Ahmed Hafez

Overview Abdominal pain is a very common presenting symptom. Abdominal pain is a very common presenting complaint. It can be difficult to comprehend due to the shear volume of conditions that can present with this symptom. The job of any junior doctor, physician associate or advanced nurse practitioner is to take a good history, performance a solid examination and then come up with a synthesised list of possible diagnoses (i.e. the differential diagnosis). Two of the most important things to uncover from the history is the ‘timing of onset’ and the ‘location’. This is because these two factors really help

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - I #Malabsorption syndromes

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), your symptoms may include abdominal pain, a bloated stomach and irregular bowel habits. You may have chronic diarrhoea or constipation, or alternating diarrhoea and constipation. Your doctor will rule out other illnesses before diagnosing IBS. Your doctor may suggest proven treatments for IBS, including several non-medicine treatments. A dietitian can often help identify your triggers, and help you manage your symptoms. What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition where you experience symptoms related to your digestive system. This is sometimes linked to certain foods, lifestyle

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - G

Gastro-Oseophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (GORD) (reflux)

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is caused by acid from stomach rising up your food pipe. GORD can cause symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation. Some GORD symptoms are the same as a heart attack  To treat GORD, you can take over the counter medicines, and make lifestyle changes. What is GORD? Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) happens when stomach acid leaks from your stomach and moves up into your oesophagus (food pipe). This is also known as ‘reflux’ or ‘acid reflux’. Almost everyone gets heartburn due to acid reflux from time to time. GORD is when reflux occurs more than twice

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - G #School exclusion periods

Gastroenteritis (gastro)

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Gastroenteritis (‘gastro’) is a common and often highly infectious condition that affects the stomach and intestines. It can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Babies under 6 months should always be seen by a doctor if they have gastro. Gastroenteritis is treated by drinking fluids, and doesn’t usually require medication. Reduce your risk of catching or spreading gastro by washing your hands well after using the bathroom, changing nappies or handling food. Children should not return to school and adults should not return to work until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea and/or vomiting. What is gastroenteritis? Gastroenteritis

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - G

Gastritis

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Gastritis is when your stomach lining becomes inflamed (irritated, swollen and red). There are several causes of gastritis, including infection, medicines and alcohol. Treatment will depend on the cause of your gastritis. What is gastritis? Gastritis is when your stomach lining becomes inflamed (irritated, swollen and red). Your stomach lining may also wear down because of the inflammation — this is called erosive gastritis. Gastritis can: happen suddenly and be short-lived (acute gastritis) happen gradually and last for a few months or years (chronic gastritis) What are the symptoms of gastritis? Not everyone with gastritis will have symptoms.

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - D #Infectious diseases

Diarrhoea

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Most diarrhoea is mild and clears up in a few days without treatment. Diarrhoea has many different causes, but gastroenteritis is a common one. Avoiding dehydration is very important, especially for children and in older people. Children and older people should use oral rehydration solutions to replace fluids. Children should not take anti-diarrhoeal medicine. Ask your pharmacist or doctor before taking anti-diarrhoeal medicines — they may not be suitable for you. What is diarrhoea? Diarrhoea is having 3 or more loose or liquid stools (poos) in one day, or more frequently than normal. If you have diarrhoea, you

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - C #Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) #Malabsorption syndromes

Crohn’s disease

By Sama Mohamed

Key facts Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms can include abdominal (tummy) pain and diarrhoea. Although there is no cure for Crohn’s disease, there are treatments available to help control the inflammation. What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes swelling and inflammation (redness) inside your digestive tract. This can lead to symptoms such as abdominal (tummy) pain and diarrhoea. Crohn’s disease can develop at any age, but usually first appears in people aged 15 to 30 years. Crohn’s disease is more common in people living in the Western

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - C

Constipation

By Sama Mohamed

What is constipation? Constipation is difficulty passing stools (pooing) or infrequent bowel movements. It is common in both adults and children. Constipation can be annoying and, occasionally, painful. It can usually be treated by making simple lifestyle changes. However, in some cases there may be an underlying problem. So, see your doctor if your constipation is bad or not getting better. What are the symptoms of constipation? The timing of bowel movements varies quite a lot between different people. The normal range for adults is from 3 bowel movements per day to 3 bowel movements per week. And breast-fed babies may

Continue Reading
comment
#Gastrointestinal illnesses #Health topics - C #Malabsorption syndromes

Coeliac disease

By Sama Mohamed

  Coeliac disease   What is coeliac disease? Coeliac disease (pronounced SEE-lee-ak) is an autoimmune disease. In people with coeliac disease, the lining of the small bowel is damaged by even tiny amounts of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats. Coeliac disease affects people of all ages and genders. It runs in families and can develop at any age from infancy to adulthood. Currently, the only available treatment is with a gluten-free diet. Early diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease significantly reduces the risk of most complications. You should tell family who share your

Continue Reading
comment
Load More Posts