DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEMHCT II

Appendicitis• An acute inflammation of the appendix

• S&S• Abdominal pain (generalized at first and then localized to lower

right quadrant)• Nausea and Vomiting’• Mild fever • Elevated WBC count

**** If an appendix ruptures infectious material will spread into the peritoneal cavity and cause peritinitis.

Treatment- Appendectomy

Cholecystitis• An inflammation of the gallbladder.

• Cholelithiasis- gallstones (formed from crystalized cholesterol, bile salts and bile pigments)

• S&S • Indigestion• Nausea and vomiting• Pain under the rib cage that may radiate to the right shoulder

• Treatment• Low fat diet• Lithotripsy (shock waves used to break up gallstones)• Cholecystectomy- Removal of the gallbladder

Constipation• When fecal material remains in the colon too long

• Causes excessive reabsorption of water• The feces becomes hard and dry making it difficult to eliminate

• Causes-• Poor bowel habits• Chronic laxative use • A low fiber diet• Digestive diseases

• Treatment• Fluids• Exercise• High fiber diet

Diarrhea• Frequent watery stools

• Causes• Stress• Infection• Irritated colon• Diet• Toxic substances

• Treatment• Eliminating cause• Adequate fluid intake• Diet changes

Diverticulitis• Inflammation of the diverticulum (sacs that form the

intestine as the mucosal lining pushes through)

• Causes• Fecal material getting caught in the diverticuli, causing

inflammation

• S&S• Abdominal pain• Irregular bowel movements• Gas• Constipation or diarrhea• Nausea and vomiting

Diverticulitis

• Treatment• Antibiotics• Stool softeners• Pain medication• High fiber diet• Possible surgery to remove

affected colon

Hepatitis• A viral inflammation of the liver

• Type A or infectious hepatitis (HAV)• Highly contagious• Spread in food, water and contaminated feces\• Usually self limiting

• Type B or serum hepatitis (HBV)• Transmitted through body fluids (blood saliva, urine, vaginal secretions, breast

milk) • Can lead to chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver

• Type C or HCV • Spread through blood or body fluids• Usually from sharing needles or getting stuck with a contaminated needle• From mom to infant during childbirth.• More likely to cause chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or both

Hepatitis

S&S

• Fever• Loss of appetite (anorexia)• Nausea and vomiting• Fatigue• Dark colored urine• Clay colored stool• Myalgia (muscle pain)• Enlarged liver• Jaundice

Treatment

• Rest• High protein diet• Low fat diet• Possible liver transplant• Vaccine for A and B

Hernia• An internal organ pushes through a weakened area or

natural opening in the body

• Hiatal hernia- when the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and chest cavity through the opening for the esophagus

• S&S • Heartburn• Stomach distention• Chest pain• Difficulty swallowing

Hiatal hernia• Treatments

• Bland diet• Small frequent meals• Staying upright after eating• Surgical repair

Pancreatitis• Inflammation of the pancreas

• Pancreatic enzymes begin to digest the pancreas itself• Pancreas becomes necrotic, inflamed and edematous.

• Causes • Excessive alcohol consumption• Gallstones blocking the pancreatic duct• Idiopathic (Unknown)

• S&S• Abdominal pain radiating to the shoulder blades• Nausea• Vomiting• jaundice

Treatment

Gallstones

• Cholecystectomy

Idiopathic or alcoholism

• Pain medication’• Nutritional support

Prognosis is poor for this type of pancreatitis

Column A Column B

_____ When gallstones form from crystalized cholesterol A. Hepatitis A

_____ Frequent watery stools B. Pancreatitis

_____Feces becomes hard, dry and difficult to eliminate C. Cholecystitis

____ Chronic destruction of liver cells with accompanied scar tissue D. Hepatitis C

____ Idiopathic in origin or from alcoholism or gallstones E. Hemorrhoids

____Inflammation of the sacs that form from the mucosal lining pushing through F. Hernia Surrounding muscle G. Diverticulitis ____ No Vaccine H. Cirrhosis ____ A viral infection of the liver I. Diarrhea _____Highly contagious and usually spread through contaminated food, water or feces J. Appendicitis _____ Pancreatic enzymes digest the pancreas itself _____ When and internal organ pushes though weakened area ____ a liver transplant may be necessary from these two diseases ____ a varicose vein in the rectum ____ poor outcome when cause is unknown or from excessive drinking ____ Inflammation of the appendix usually from and obstruction and infection

Cirrhosis• Causes

• S&S

• Treatment

Peritonitis• Causes

• S&S

• Treatment

Ulcer• Causes

• S&S

• Treatment

Ulcerative Colitis• Causes

• S&S

• Treatment