Stomach Conditions and Diseases Part 2

Here are a couple of more conditions that I was asked to write some information about, I hope you find it helpful and informative. If I missed anything please let me know

Rapid Gastric Emptying:  This is also called dumping syndrome, it happens when undigested food empties too quickly into the small intestine. It can happen during or fight after a meal and the symptoms are like many stomach issues nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. This is usually related to surgery such as fundoplication (surgery for GERD) or gastric bypass. The condition is also seen in people with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome which is a rare disorder involving peptic ulcer disease and gastric-secreting tumors in the pancreas. Treatment includes changes in eating habits (eating more small meals a day) and medication.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: This is a condition in which one or more tumors form in your pancreas, the upper part of your small intestine or the lymph nodes adjacent to your pancreas. These tumors, called gastrinomas, secrete large amounts of the hormone gastrin, which in turn causes your stomach to produce too much acid. The excess acid leads to peptic ulcers. This can occur at any time in one’s life but it usually happens between the ages of 20 and 50 and is more common in men. Treatment consists of medications to reduce stomach acid and heal the ulcers. Surgery to remove the tumors may be an option for some people

Hirschsprungs Disease:  This is a disease of the large intestine (colon). It usually occurs in children and results in a blockage of the intestine so that stool cannot pass through. Some children with HD can’t have bowel movements at all. If not treated, stool can fill up the large intestine, causing serious problems such as infection, bursting of the colon, and even death. HD occurs five times more often in boys than it does in girls. HD occurs in 1 out of every 5,000 births. It is sometimes associated with inherited diseases such as Down’s syndrome. HD develops before a child is born. Normally, nerve cells grow in the baby’s intestine soon after the baby begins to develop in the womb. These cells grow down from the top of the intestine all the way to the anus. With HD, the nerve cells stop growing before they reach the end. It is unclear why the nerve cells stop growing. Symptoms of HD are failure to pass first stool within 24 to 48 hours after birth, constipation, abdominal swelling, watery diarrhea, poor weight gain, slow growth in addition to loss of appetite. Surgery is needed to correct this disease.

Whipple’s Disease:  This is a rare bacterial infection primarily affecting the small intestine. It can also affect the heart, lungs, brain, joints, and eyes. Left untreated, Whipple’s disease is fatal.  The infection can cause internal sores and the thickening of tissues. The villi which are tiny finger like projections that line the small intestine, take on an abnormal, club like appearance. The damaged intestinal lining fails to properly absorb nutrients, causing diarrhea and malnutrition. It is unsure how people get infected by Whipple’s disease. Anyone can get Whipple’s disease, but it is more common in middle-aged Caucasian men. Because Whipple’s disease is rare, the doctor may first try to rule out more common conditions with similar symptoms, including inflammatory rheumatic disease, celiac disease, various neurologic disorders, intra-abdominal lymphoma and Mycobacterium avium complex in people with AIDS. Whipple’s disease is diagnosed through a careful evaluation of symptoms, endoscopy, and biopsy with tissue staining. Whipple’s disease is treated with long-term antibiotics.

Pancreatitis:  This is when the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digestion and hormones that help regulate the way your body processes sugar. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Either form is serious and can lead to complications. In severe cases, bleeding, infection, and permanent tissue damage may occur. Acute pancreatitis usually begins with gradual or sudden pain in the upper abdomen that sometimes extends through the back. The pain may be mild at first and feel worse after eating. But the pain is often severe and may become constant and last for several days. Treatment for acute pancreatitis requires a few days’ stay in the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics, and medication to relieve pain. The person cannot eat or drink so the pancreas can rest.