Digestive diseases
Digestive diseases are disorders of the digestive tract, which is sometimes called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
In digestion, food and drink are broken down into small parts (called nutrients) that the body can absorb and use as energy and building blocks for cells.
The digestive tract is made up of the esophagus (food tube), stomach, large and small intestines, liver, pancreas, and the gallbladder.
Information
The first sign of problems in the digestive tract often includes one or more of the following symptoms:
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Bleeding
Bleeding
Bleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internally) Outside the body (externally)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blo...
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Bloating
Bloating
Abdominal bloating is a condition in which the belly (abdomen) feels full and tight. Your belly may look swollen (distended).
Image -
Constipation
Constipation
Constipation in infants and children occurs when they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools o...
Image - Diarrhea
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Heartburn
Heartburn
Heartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in y...
Image - Incontinence
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Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up is forcing the contents of the stomach ...
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Pain in the belly
Pain in the belly
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.
Image - Swallowing problems
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Weight
gain
or
loss
Gain
Unintentional weight gain is when you gain weight without trying to do so and you are not eating or drinking more.
ImageLoss
Unexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...
A digestive disease is any health problem that occurs in the digestive tract. Conditions may range from mild to serious. Some common problems include cancer , irritable bowel syndrome , and lactose intolerance .
Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to abdominal pain and bowel changes. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)...

Lactose intolerance
Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. An enzyme called lactase is needed by the body to digest lactose. Lactose intoler...

Other digestive diseases include:
-
Gallstones
,
cholecystitis
, and
cholangitis
Gallstones
Gallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.
ImageCholecystitis
Chronic cholecystitis is swelling and irritation of the gallbladder that continues over time. The gallbladder is a sac located under the liver. It s...
ImageCholangitis
Cholangitis is an infection of the bile ducts, the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines. Bile is a liquid made by ...
Image -
Rectal problems, such as
anal fissure
,
hemorrhoids
,
proctitis
, and
rectal prolapse
Anal fissure
An anal fissure is a small split or tear in the thin moist tissue (mucosa) lining the lower rectum (anus).
ImageHemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus or lower part of the rectum.
ImageProctitis
Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectum. It can cause discomfort, bleeding, and the discharge of mucus or pus.
ImageRectal prolapse
Rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum falls and comes through the anal opening.
Image -
Esophagus problems, such as
stricture
(narrowing) and
achalasia
Stricture
Benign esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). It causes swallowing difficulties. Benign mean...
ImageAchalasia
The tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach is the esophagus. Achalasia makes it harder for the esophagus to move food into the stomach...
Image -
Liver problems, such as
hepatitis B
or
hepatitis C
,
cirrhosis
, liver failure, and autoimmune and
alcoholic hepatitis
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis ...
ImageHepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver. Other types of viral hepatitis include:Hepatitis AHepatitis BHepat...
ImageCirrhosis
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.
ImageAlcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic liver disease is damage to the liver and its function due to alcohol abuse.
Image -
Pancreatitis and
pancreatic pseudocyst
Pancreatic pseudocyst
A pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac in the abdomen. It may also contain tissue from the pancreas, enzymes, and blood.
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Intestinal problems, such as polyps and cancer, infections,
celiac disease
,
Crohn disease
,
ulcerative colitis
,
diverticulitis
,
malabsorption
,
short bowel syndrome
, and
intestinal ischemia
Celiac disease
Celiac disease is a condition caused by damage to the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This is a ...
ImageCrohn disease
Crohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...
ImageUlcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...
ImageDiverticulitis
Diverticula are small, bulging sacs or pouches that form on the inner wall of the intestine. Diverticulitis occurs when these pouches become inflame...
ImageMalabsorption
Malabsorption involves problems with the body's ability to take in nutrients from food.
ImageShort bowel syndrome
Short bowel syndrome is a problem that occurs when part of the small intestine is missing or has been removed during surgery. Nutrients are not prop...
ImageIntestinal ischemia
Intestinal ischemia and infarction occurs when there is a narrowing or blockage of 1 or more of the arteries that supply the small intestine....
Image -
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (
GERD
),
peptic ulcer
disease, and
hiatal hernia
GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from...
ImagePeptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach or intestine. A gastric ulcer occurs in the stomach. A duodenal ulcer occurs ...
ImageHiatal hernia
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of ...
Image
Tests for digestive problems can include colonoscopy , upper GI endoscopy , capsule endoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound .
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...

Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube that has a small camera and light on the end of it. This instrument is called an...

Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.

Many surgical procedures are performed on the digestive tract. These include procedures done using endoscopy, laparoscopy, and open surgery. Organ transplants can be performed on the liver, pancreas, and small intestine.
Many health care providers can help diagnose and treat digestive problems. A gastroenterologist is a physician specialist who has received extra training in the diagnosis and treatment of the digestive disorders. Other health care providers involved in the treatment of digestive diseases include:
-
Nurse practitioners
(NPs) or
physician assistants
(PAs)
Nurse practitioners
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a nurse with a graduate degree in advanced practice nursing. This type of provider may also be referred to as an ARNP (...
ImagePhysician assistants
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSIONThe first Physician Assistant (PA) training program was founded in 1965 at Duke University by Dr. Eugene Stead. Most progra...
Image - Nutritionists or dietitians
- Primary care doctors
- Radiologists
- Surgeons
References
Bkope ET, Kellerman RD. The digestive system. In: Bope ET, ed. Conn's Current Therapy 2016 . Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 8.
Mayer EA. Functional gastrointestinal disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 137.
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Normal abdominal anatomy - illustration
The abdomen is the area of the body between the diaphragm and pelvis. Most of the organs of digestion are located in the abdomen.
Normal abdominal anatomy
illustration
Review Date: 10/27/2015
Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist with Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.