Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Description: A chronic digestive condition where stomach acid flows back into the food pipe, irritating the lining.
Symptoms: Heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of food or sour liquid.
Causes: Weakness or relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Risk Factors: Obesity, pregnancy, smoking, hiatal hernia.
Diagnosis: Endoscopy, 24-hour pH study, esophageal manometry.
Treatment: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), lifestyle changes, laparoscopic fundoplication.
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Description: Sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach (gastric ulcers) and upper small intestine.
Symptoms: Burning stomach pain, bloating, belching, intolerance to fatty foods, nausea.
Causes: Infection with H. pylori bacteria, long-term use of NSAIDs (painkillers).
Risk Factors: Regular NSAID use, smoking, alcohol, severe stress.
Diagnosis: Upper GI endoscopy, H. pylori urea breath test or stool antigen.
Treatment: Antibiotics (triple therapy), acid reducers (PPIs), lifestyle adjustments.
Celiac Disease
Description: An autoimmune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, damaging the small intestine.
Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, weight loss, iron deficiency anemia.
Causes: Genetic predisposition combined with consumption of gluten.
Risk Factors: Family history, type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease.
Diagnosis: Celiac serology (anti-tTG IgA), upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsy.
Treatment: Strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Description: A common disorder that affects the large intestine, requiring long-term management.
Symptoms: Cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation (or both).
Causes: Abnormal gut contractions, nervous system abnormalities, gut inflammation.
Risk Factors: Young age, female gender, family history, anxiety or depression.
Diagnosis: Diagnosis of exclusion, clinical history based on Rome criteria.
Treatment: Dietary changes (Low FODMAP diet), fiber supplements, antispasmodics, stress reduction.
Ulcerative Colitis
Description: An inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum.
Symptoms: Diarrhea (often with blood or pus), abdominal pain and cramping, rectal pain, urgency.
Causes: Immune system malfunction attacking the lining of the large intestine.
Risk Factors: Family history, age between 15 and 30, urban environment.
Diagnosis: Colonoscopy with biopsies, stool tests to rule out infection.
Treatment: Anti-inflammatory drugs (aminosalicylates, corticosteroids), immunomodulators, surgery.
Crohn's Disease
Description: An inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of any part of the digestive tract.
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, malnutrition, fistulas.
Causes: Autoimmune response triggered by genetic and environmental factors.
Risk Factors: Smoking, family history, age under 30, NSAID use.
Diagnosis: Colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy, CT enterography.
Treatment: Corticosteroids, biologics (TNF inhibitors), immunosuppressants, bowel resection.
Chronic Pancreatitis
Description: Long-term inflammation of the pancreas that alters its structure and function.
Symptoms: Constant upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, greasy foul-smelling stools (steatorrhea), weight loss.
Causes: Heavy, long-term alcohol consumption, genetic disorders, autoimmune disease.
Risk Factors: Heavy alcohol use, smoking, family history.
Diagnosis: Fecal elastase test, abdominal CT or MRI, endoscopic ultrasound.
Treatment: Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), pain management, dietary changes.
Helicobacter Pylori Gastritis
Description: Infection of the stomach lining by H. pylori bacteria, leading to chronic inflammation.
Symptoms: Ache or burning pain in abdomen, nausea, frequent burping, bloating.
Causes: Ingestion of contaminated food or water.
Risk Factors: Living in crowded conditions, lack of clean water supply.
Diagnosis: Urea breath test, stool antigen test, endoscopy with rapid urease test.
Treatment: 14-day triple or quadruple therapy (PPI + clarithromycin + amoxicillin).
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
Description: A type of tumor that starts in special cells in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms: Blood in stool, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly, nausea, vomiting.
Causes: Genetic mutations in the KIT or PDGFRA genes.
Risk Factors: Genetic syndromes (Neurofibromatosis type 1), age over 50.
Diagnosis: Endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, abdominal CT scan, biopsy.
Treatment: Surgical resection, targeted therapy (imatinib).
Gallbladder Polyps
Description: Growths that project from the lining of the inside of the gallbladder.
Symptoms: Usually asymptomatic, occasional upper right quadrant pain, nausea.
Causes: Cholesterol deposits, inflammation, benign mucosal growths.
Risk Factors: Age over 50, primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Diagnosis: Abdominal ultrasound, CT scan.
Treatment: Regular monitoring with ultrasound, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (if size > 10mm).
Achalasia Cardia
Description: A rare swallowing disorder affecting the ability of the esophagus to move food into the stomach.
Symptoms: Difficulty swallowing both solids and liquids (dysphagia), regurgitation, chest pain.
Causes: Loss of nerve cells in the esophageal wall controlling motility.
Risk Factors: Middle-aged adults, autoimmune conditions.
Diagnosis: Barium swallow study, esophageal manometry, upper endoscopy.
Treatment: Pneumatic dilation, laparoscopic Heller myotomy, POEM procedure.
Diverticulosis & Diverticulitis
Description: Formation of small pouches in the colon wall (diverticulosis) that can become inflamed or infected (diverticulitis).
Symptoms: Severe left lower quadrant pain, fever, nausea, changes in bowel habits.
Causes: Low-fiber diet causing high pressure in the colon pushing through weak muscle spots.
Risk Factors: Aging, low-fiber diet, obesity, sedentary lifestyle.
Diagnosis: Abdominal CT scan (highly diagnostic), colonoscopy (after resolution).
Treatment: Antibiotics, liquid diet, surgery for complicated cases (abscess/perforation).
Gastric Cancer
Description: Malignant growth arising from the inner lining of the stomach wall.
Symptoms: Unexplained weight loss, persistent indigestion, feeling full after eating small amounts, hematemesis.
Causes: Chronic inflammation from H. pylori, genetic factors, dietary carcinogens.
Risk Factors: Chronic gastritis, smoking, family history, diet high in salty and smoked foods.
Diagnosis: Upper endoscopy with biopsy, CT scan for staging.
Treatment: Subtotal or total gastrectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy.
Barrett's Esophagus
Description: A complication of chronic GERD where the normal lining of the esophagus changes to tissue resembling intestine.
Symptoms: Heartburn, dysphagia, chest pain (symptoms of chronic GERD).
Causes: Long-standing tissue irritation from acid reflux.
Risk Factors: Chronic GERD, male gender, white race, age over 50.
Diagnosis: Upper endoscopy and tissue biopsy.
Treatment: Acid suppression (high-dose PPIs), endoscopic mucosal resection or radiofrequency ablation.
Clostridium Difficile Colitis
Description: Inflammation of the colon caused by the toxins of C. difficile bacteria, often following antibiotic use.
Symptoms: Watery diarrhea (frequent), fever, abdominal pain/cramping, dehydration.
Causes: Disruption of normal healthy gut flora by antibiotics, allowing C. diff to overgrow.
Risk Factors: Recent antibiotic use, hospitalization, advanced age.
Diagnosis: Stool test for C. difficile toxins, PCR assay.
Treatment: Oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin, fecal microbiota transplant (for recurrent cases).
