Bacterial Overgrowth
What is bacterial overgrowth? Small-bowel bacterial overgrowth can occur from alterations in intestinal anatomy or GI motility, or lack of gastric acid secretion. This condition can lead to vitamin deficiencies, fat malabsorption, and malnutrition. Diagnosis is by breath test or quantitative culture of intestinal fluid aspirate. Treatment is with oral antibiotics. Under normal conditions, the […]
Intestinal Bleeding
What is Intestinal Bleeding? Intestinal Bleeding is a condition in which people bleed internally from the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI tract is a vast organ system which starts in mouth, goes down to the esophagus, stomach, small intestine (which is about 22 feet long!) and finally to colon which could be 4-6 feet long and […]
Chron’s Disease
What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the […]
Celiac Disease
What is a celiac disease? Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in products we […]
Malabsorption
What is a malabsorption? Malabsorption syndrome refers to a number of disorders in which nutrients from food are not absorbed properly in the small intestine. Certain disorders, infections, and surgical procedures can cause malabsorption. Malabsorption causes diarrhea, weight loss, and bulky, extremely foul-smelling stools. The diagnosis is based on typical symptoms along with testing of […]
Peptic Ulcer
What is a peptic ulcer? A peptic ulcer is a hole in the gut lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal ulcer. An ulcer occurs when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic […]