Eat gluten, and your immune system goes on the attack: It damages your villi, the fingerlike protrusions in your small intestines that help you absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. In children, symptoms may include abdominal pain and bloating , diarrhea, constipation , vomiting, and weight loss.
Symptoms in adults can also include anemia , fatigue, bone loss, depression, and seizures. Yet some people may not have any symptoms. The only treatment for celiac disease is to completely avoid eating gluten. Common alternatives to gluten include brown rice, quinoa , lentils, soy flour, corn flour, and amaranth.
Doctors aren't sure what causes the disease, but it's thought that genetics and family history may play a part. The most common Crohn's symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding , weight loss, and fever. Bamji says. Avoiding trigger foods like dairy products, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, raw fruit and vegetables, red meat, and foods that are fatty, fried, spicy, or gas-producing can also help prevent flares.
Ulcerative colitis is another inflammatory bowel disease that may affect as many as , Americans, according to the CCFA. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis are very similar to those of Crohn's , but the part of the digestive tract affected is solely the large intestine, also known as the colon.
If you experience frequent and urgent bowel movements, pain with diarrhea, blood in your stool, or abdominal cramps , visit your doctor. Medication can suppress the inflammation, and eliminating foods that cause discomfort may help as well.
In severe cases, treatment for ulcerative colitis may involve surgery to remove the colon. Is your digestive tract irritable? Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that causes the body to attack the intestinal lining if a person eats foods containing gluten.
Unlike non-celiac gluten sensitivity , celiac disease is a serious condition that can cause damage to the intestines if left untreated. Symptoms of celiac disease can include :. The main treatment for celiac disease is following a gluten-free diet. The sooner doctors can reach a celiac disease diagnosis, the sooner they can recommend dietary and medicinal treatment options.
A person with a diagnosis should seek medical help if previous symptoms return suddenly or worsen or if the person experiences unexplained fatigue. It causes chronic inflammation in the GI tract, most often in the small intestine. However, genetic and environmental factors can play a role as well.
Some people may also require bowel rests to help the intestines heal, or surgery. The sooner that a person can treat and control their flare-ups, the better chance they have of avoiding complications in the future. Individuals with the condition should seek emergency medical help if their treatments appear to have stopped working or if symptoms become more frequent or severe. UC is a type of IBD that causes inflammation in the rectum and large intestine.
The inflammation can also spread to other parts of the intestine over time. As with other types of IBD, what triggers UC could be a combination of an autoimmune response, genetics, and environmental causes. People without a previous diagnosis of UC should seek immediate medical help if they experience any of the above symptoms.
Doctors will be able to determine whether the person has the condition or not and suggest a treatment plan if necessary. Treatment may involve dietary changes, medications to manage inflammation and reduce symptoms, or surgery. The sooner that a person starts treating their UC, the better their long-term outlook will be. Other less common digestive disorders can cause stomach issues. A person experiencing any of the below symptoms should contact a doctor immediately for testing and potential treatment.
Symptoms in newborns may include :. Other providers involved in the treatment of digestive diseases include:. Maldigestion and malabsorption. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Kliegman RM, St. Digestive system disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Mayer EA. IBS is a group of gastrointestinal conditions in which one experiences a combination of frequent abdominal pain, bloating and cramps associated with either diarrhea or constipation.
This occurs by definition in the absence of any underlying inflammation, chemical or anatomical abnormalities, and is caused by a variety of factors, including irritated gut microbiota. Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects percent of the US population. Some of the risk factors include being stressed and consumption of certain medicines and foods.
Women are more susceptible to IBS than men. Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms vary in duration and frequency from one person to another, and can occur also in teenagers and ;less frequently in children. Some people have mild symptoms, while others experience substantial symptoms that can affect their quality of life. Remember: a proper diagnosis handled by gastroenterologists is crucial. This is due to low levels of an enzyme called lactase that is responsible for digesting lactose.
Upon eating dairy, symptoms can range from mild to distressing. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, gas, abdominal cramps and bloating. Symptoms vary between individuals due to various levels of decrease of intestinal lactase, and typically depend on the amount of lactose ingested.
Treatments for lactose intolerance include enzyme supplements to help break down lactose, and replacing regular milk with lactose-free or dairy-free milk. It's important to also identify the differences between lactose intolerance, milk allergy and dairy sensitivity as part of your diagnosis and treatment. Chronic diarrhea is a gastrointestinal condition in which the person passes watery, mushy or loose stools that lasts more than 4 weeks.
In a study, researchers found that the prevalence of chronic diarrhea in the US is 6. This means that for every Americans, 6 to 7 suffer from the condition. A high daily intake of sugars, being overweight, feeling depressed, older age, and being a woman seem to favor this condition. Chronic diarrhea can also be due to a large number of intestinal infections such as C.
Your doctor will choose the best treatment option based on the underlying cause of diarrhea that has been identified. It may include steroids, antibiotics, pain killers, immunosuppressants, antidiarrheal, and other prescription medication. A specific diet and lifestyle changes may also help reduce symptoms of chronic diarrhea. Constipation is a digestive condition in which the person experiences hard, dry and often painful bowel movements, occurring less frequently than normal generally fewer than three bowel movements a week.
Constipation is one of the most common digestive disorder symptoms, and is estimated to affect approximately 2. All of this leads to a slower transit of the stools through the colon, so that they tend to sit in the rectum becoming harder and larger. If the constipation persists, you can use laxatives as a temporary relief. There are various types of laxatives, working differently. While you can use some OTC remedies for occasional constipation, it is highly recommended to seek medical advice if constipation is chronic.
Be wary of OTC remedy use, as excessive use of laxatives can do more harm than good. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is defined as having symptoms of acid reflux twice or more times a week. Acid reflux or heartburn occurs when stomach contents and acids spill over into your esophagus, causing a burning sensation and chest pain. This condition is sometimes also called acid regurgitation.
GERD usually manifests itself as a dry cough, discomfort in the chest area, sore throat, swallowing difficulties, and sour taste in the back of the mouth. Peptic Ulcer Disease PUD is a gastrointestinal condition, most commonly caused by an infection by a microorganism called Helicobacter pylori, in which ulcers or open sores develop in the inner lining of the stomach and duodenum the first portion of the small intestine. The stomach lining is normally protected from corrosion by digestive juices by a thick mucus layer.
Peptic ulcers may occur when this protective layer is reduced. In addition to H. PUD affects approximately 4. Mild symptoms of PUD include acid reflux, vomiting or nausea, bloating, and burning sensations in the upper abdomen. In a serious case of peptic ulcer disease, you may experience heavy vomiting, occasionally blood-tinged, severe pain in the upper abdomen, tarry-black stool indicative of a bleeding ulcer , and weight loss.
In addition to a healthful diet, prescription drugs are mandatory and can help treat most peptic ulcers. Depending on the underlying cause, you may be prescribed proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, probiotics or H2 receptor blockers. In rare cases, however, the doctor may recommend surgical removal of the ulcers. It most commonly however involves the ileum the lower side of the small bowel that becomes ulcerated and inflamed.
Along with ulcerative colitis, this condition is part of a group of gastrointestinal disorders called inflammatory bowel disease IBD. As mentioned, although the inflammation primarily affects the ileum, ulceration can also occur in any area of the small intestine, colon, esophagus, or stomach.
In the early stages of the condition, you may experience fever, weight loss, reduced appetite, fatigue, bloody stools, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Potentially serious symptoms appear much later. These can include: ulcers, skin inflammation, perianal fistulas, and shortness of breath as a result of anemia.
Early screening and diagnosing can make a huge difference so you can start treatment.
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