Digestive problems: causes, symptoms and treatment. Diseases of the digestive system

With digestive system disorders, even young children are familiar. Adults face this problem quite often. Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract can 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. Problems with digestion are indicated by such symptoms as abdominal pain, nausea, stool changes. Similar manifestations are associated with both acute inflammatory processes and chronic diseases. If symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders occur, you should see a doctor.

How is the digestive process normal?

As you know, the digestive system consists of a multitude of organs connected to each other. It begins in the oral cavity and passes through the entire body, ending with the anus. Normally, all stages of the digestive process are carried out consistently. First, the food enters the mouth. There it is crushed with the help of teeth. In addition, in the mouth there is an enzyme - amylase of saliva, which participates in the splitting of food. As a result, a lump of crushed products is formed - chyme. It passes through the esophagus and enters the cavity of the stomach. Here, the chyme is treated with hydrochloric acid. As a result, proteins, carbohydrates and fats are disintegrated. In the pancreas, enzymes are produced that enter the lumen of the duodenum. They provide further cleavage of organic substances.

The work of the digestive system is not only the grinding of the eaten products. Thanks to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, useful substances penetrate the bloodstream. Absorption of amino acids, fats and glucose occurs in the small intestine. From there, useful substances penetrate the vascular system and spread throughout the body. In the colon, liquid and vitamins are absorbed. There is formation of fecal masses. Peristalsis of the intestine contributes to their progress and elimination.

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 disorders in the functioning of the digestive tract. Pathogens begin to multiply rapidly and damage the mucosa of the digestive tract. This, in turn, leads to an inflammatory reaction. As a result, the process of digestion slows down or is disrupted. To the causes of disorders of the digestive tract include:

1. Inflammatory diseases: gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, enteritis and colitis.
2. Chronic destructive lesions of the digestive system. These include nonspecific ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
3. Neoplasms that can develop from any organ of the digestive system.
4. Obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Violation of the innervation of the digestive system.
6. Parasitic infestations.
7. Disturbance of nutrition.
8. Bad habits. Alcohol leads to damage to the pancreas and liver. Smoking is one of the factors that provoke the development of ulcers on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.
9. Injuries.

To find out why the disorder has occurred, it is necessary to be examined. Laboratory and instrumental diagnostic procedures will help to determine the source of pathology.

Causes of digestive disorders in children

In childhood, digestive problems occur frequently. They can be associated with various factors. Among them - hereditary anomalies, improper feeding, helminthic invasions, infectious pathologies, etc. In some cases, urgent surgical care is needed to eliminate the problem. To the causes of digestive disorders in children are:

1. Hereditary disorders of the exocrine glands are cystic fibrosis.
2. Anomalies in the development of the digestive system.
3. Spasm or stenosis of the pyloric part of the stomach.
4. Feeding an early child is excessively dense food.
5. Poisoning with stale or spoiled products.
6. Infection with various pathogens that enter the digestive tract along with food.
7. Glistovye infestations.

Only the doctor can find out: why there was a problem with digestion in children. Some pathologies can be fatal, so they need urgent help from a doctor.

Diseases of the digestive system

Diseases of the digestive system are classified because of the 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 be achieved only through surgical intervention. Therapeutic diseases are treated with medication.

Surgical pathologies of the digestive system include:

1. Acute appendicitis. It is characterized by an inflammation of the vermiform appendage of the cecum.
2. Calculous cholecystitis. Characterized by the formation of stones in the cavity of the gallbladder.
3. Acute intestinal obstruction caused by various causes. Most often stasis stool occurs when obturation digestive tract tumor formation, parasites or concrements. In children, intestinal obstruction is caused by such pathologies as intussusception, megacolon, cystic fibrosis, Hirschsprung's disease.
4. Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum.
5. Acute pancreatitis.

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

Problems with digestion: symptoms

Pathologies of the digestive system may manifest as a syndrome of gastric or intestinal dyspepsia, pain in the abdomen and changes in the nature of the stool. In some cases, the phenomenon of intoxication of the body. Symptoms of gastric pathologies include: pain in the epigastric region, nausea and vomiting after eating. Similar clinical manifestations are observed with cholecystitis. The difference is that patients with gallbladder inflammation complain of pain in the right upper half of the abdomen and a bitter taste in the mouth. Intestinal dyspepsia is 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 half of the abdomen.

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

Diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Diagnosis of pathologies of the digestive system is based on cynical data and additional studies. In the first place, patients must submit a general blood and urine test. When suspected of inflammatory diseases of the abdominal cavity, it is necessary to determine the level of such indicators as bilirubin, ALT and AST, amylase. Also it is necessary to hand over the feces for analysis.

Instrumental studies include x-rays, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and FGDs. In some cases, additional diagnostics are required.

Which doctor should I contact?

What to do if there are problems with digestion, which doctor will help? Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are treated by a gastroenterologist. However, before registering with him, it is necessary to undergo an examination, which is prescribed by a therapist or a pediatrician. If you have acute pain in the abdomen, you should call for emergency help to exclude surgical pathologies that require immediate surgery.

Treatment of pathologies of the digestive system

The method of treatment is determined after diagnosis. Infectious and inflammatory pathologies require antibiotic therapy. They use medicines "Ciprofloxacin", "Cefazolin", "Metranidazole". To treat the enzyme deficiency used drugs "Mezim", "Pancreatin". Anti-inflammatory and antisecretory agents are also used.

Surgical treatment consists in eliminating intestinal obstruction, removal of concrements, tumor formations, suturing ulcer defect, etc.

Prevention of digestive disorders

To avoid digestive problems, it is necessary to follow preventive measures. These include:

1. Compliance with diet.
2. Thorough handling of food.
3. Hand washing.
4. Refusal from smoking and alcohol.

If there is discomfort in the abdomen, stool or nausea, it is worth to go through the examination and find out the cause of the problem.