Intestinal problems can cause severe pain and immobility. The treatments seem to work primarily but the symptoms tend to re-occur causing a lot of frustration and mental anxiety. Here is a list of the most common intestinal problems, their diagnosis, and treatment.
1. Constipation
Constipation is the most common ailment. It occurs due to slow bowel movements. The normal length of time between bowel movements vary from three times a day to one or two times a week. If it goes longer than three days without a bowel movement, the stool becomes hard and sticks to the intestine.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of constipation are straining during a bowel movement, hard stool, incomplete evacuation, swollen abdomen or abdominal pain and vomiting. And there are only 2-3 or even fewer bowel movements in a week.
Causes
The most common causes are inadequate water consumption, inadequate fiber in diet, disruption of regular diet or routine due to traveling or else, lack of physical activity or exercise, eating large amounts of dairy products, stress etc.
Treatment
Treatment includes laxatives with warm liquid, eating lots of water on an empty stomach, exercise, drinking fruit juice and consuming foods with lots of dietary fiber.
2. Diarrhea
It is a very common intestinal problem and is usually not serious. Most of us suffer from diarrhea once or twice each year. It typically lasts for 2-3 days and can be treated with over-the-counter medicines. Diarrhea can be of two types – uncomplicated and complicated.
Symptoms
The symptoms of uncomplicated diarrhea are abdominal bloating or cramps, loose or watery stool, very frequent bowel movement, nausea, and vomiting. The symptoms of complicated diarrhea includes all the symptoms of uncomplicated diarrhea plus blood, mucus, or undigested food in the stool, sudden weight loss, and fever.
Causes
The causes can be bacterial infection (food poisoning), eating foods that upset the digestive system, alcohol abuse, overuse of laxative etc. Sometimes Diarrhea may follow constipation, especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Treatment
Mild cases of diarrhea can be treated with general prescription drugs. Some of the common brands are Pepto-Bismol, Imodium A-D, Kaopectate etc. In addition, it is suggested that the patient drinks at least 6-8 glasses of water or juice per day. Amongst them are fruit juice, soda (without caffeine), chicken broth (without the fat), tea with honey etc. Patient should drink liquids frequently and instead of drinking along with meals, it is better drink liquids between meals.
Hemorrhoid creams or white petroleum jelly may be applied to the rectal area if sore of frequent bowel movements, or if experiencing itching, burning, or pain during bowel movements.
3. Intestinal obstruction
Intestinal obstructions can occur due to a partial or a complete blockage in the small or large intestine. The blockage prevents food, liquid, and gas from moving through the intestines normally. The blockage may cause severe, persisting or repetitive pain.
Symptoms
The symptoms include cramping and persisting belly pain around the navel (the belly button), vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating.
Causes
Tumors, scar tissue (adhesions), or twisting or narrowing of the intestines can cause a bowel obstruction.
Treatment
Most bowel obstructions have to be treated in the hospital. A tiny tube called the nasogastric tube or NG tube may be placed through your nose and down into your stomach. The tube takes out gas and fluids to help relieve pain and pressure. Medications are also given to relieve pain and nausea. A partial blockage generally does not require surgery. Treatments include enemas or stents to open up the blockage. Patient remains hospitalized till the blockage goes away. If non-surgical treatments don’t work, surgery might be required to remove blockage. In case of complete blockage surgery is almost always needed. Surgery is mostly done laparoscopically.
4. Gastroenteritis
The inflammation of the small intestine due to infections is called Gastroenteritis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, swollen lymph glands, and fever. Symptoms vary depending on the cause. In severe cases, loss of body fluid can result in dehydration; the condition often becomes life threatening and requires serious medical attention. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, increased thirst, dry or sticky mucous membranes in the mouth, lack of normal elasticity of the skin, decreased urine output, light-headedness and dry eyes.
Causes
Viruses and bacteria are the most common causes of Gastroenteritis. They are very contagious and can spread through contaminated food or water. In up to 50 percent of diarrhea outbreaks, no specific agent is found. The infection can spread from person to person because of improper hand washing following a bowel movement or handling a soiled diaper. Virus influenced Gastroenteritis may last for 1-2 days. Bacterial Gastroenteritis can continue for a longer period of time.
Treatment
Immediate hospitalization is required if patient experiences symptoms of stomach flu and feels weak or dizzy, dehydrated. If the patient cannot drink fluids but continues to lose it through fever, vomiting, and diarrhea then he should consult the doctor immediately. If patient feels drowsiness he or she should definitely be taken to a doctor or preferably to a hospital’s emergency department. Other symptoms which require urgent medical treatment include – blood in vomit or stool, dehydration (little to no urination, extreme thirst, dry mouth and dry eyes), high fever(more than 101 degrees), swollen abdomen and/or pain in the right lower part of the abdomen and persistent vomiting for over 48 hours.
5. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
IBD is a common term for both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. IBD causes inflammation in the digestive tract.
Symptoms
Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms include diarrhea and bleeding while passing bowel, abdominal cramps, and fever. Other symptoms may include sudden weight loss.
Causes
There are no such known or proven cause for this disease.
Treatment
Medical treatment is given to suppress the inflammation. Thus allowing the intestinal tissue to heal and relieve the symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Once the symptoms are under control, medications are given to decrease the frequency of flare-ups and maintain remission. The treatment of IBD includes different group of drugs such as antibiotics, immune modifiers, aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents.
