Digestive tract diseases are studied in terms of their etiology (causes) and treatment, within the scope of a subdivision into parts of the digestive tract. This subdivision is in charge of different organs such as; the mouth, the stomach and the duodenum. However, sometimes the subdivision is established within the same organ, as in the case of the distinction between; the small intestine, the large intestine and the latter, the cecum, the colon and the rectum. Given the structural complexity and the diversity of mechanisms at play in the digestive function, gastroenterological diseases present a remarkable variety. The severity can reach different categories, including some of the most common pathological processes, such as stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis or appendicitis.

Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that studies the organs in the digestive tract dealing with the analysis, prevention and treatment of diseases that affect these organs.

COMMON GASTROENTEROLOGICAL DISEASES

General signs and symptoms

A series of common and non-specific symptomatic manifestations are differentiated in gastroenterology. As in the rest of the clinical disciplines, the most frequent symptom reported by the patient is pain, which in some cases presents unique characteristics and can be a diagnostic sign. The so-called colicky pain, for example, is an acute algid sensation of the abdominal region. It is produced by the spasmodic contraction of the digestive organs with smooth muscle fibers. Thus, renal, stomach, pancreatic, and hepatic colic can be distinguished. Other painful manifestations can be experienced in the form of constriction, burning, stabbing, compression or heaviness in the affected organ.

Among the most common symptoms of gastroenterological diseases are also nausea and vomiting. These symptoms result in the sudden expulsion of substances contained in the stomach; dysphagia, an alteration in the swallowing of food which, when painful, is called odynophagia; and anorexia or loss of appetite.

It is also common in the symptomatology the appearance of halitosis or fetid breath. This is a frequent sign of diverse indications and is sometimes also related to respiratory tract disorders. The number and diversity of more specific symptoms of each lesion in the context of gastroenterology are enormous. A large number of features such as sialorrhea or excessive saliva flow, diarrhea or more frequent intestinal emptying, constipation or stool retention can be differentiated.