What are Intestinal Diseases? Intestinal Diseases Symptoms

by Abbas Jahangir · June 22, 2024

Intestinal diseases are quite common diseases in society. The intestines, which constitute the longest part of the digestive system, can be disturbed due to various reasons. Although intestinal disorders mainly affect people in the older age group, intestinal problems can occur in all age groups. So, what are the common intestinal diseases and their symptoms? What are the names of intestinal diseases? Which doctor looks after the intestines? Is there a cure for intestinal diseases? You can find the answers to all these questions in the rest of the article.

What are Intestinal Diseases?

Intestinal problems may occur due to the intestine not functioning properly or having a structural disorder in the intestine. When the intestine is examined with various diagnostic methods in functional problems, no structural problems are encountered. So the appearance of the intestine is normal. In functional problems, the main problem is related to the movements of the intestine. Most of the intestinal disorders seen in society are of functional origin. Intestinal diseases such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel disease, food poisoning; falls into the functional group. Structural bowel diseases are abnormal appearances in various parts of the intestine. A wide range of injuries, from erosion of the upper layer of the intestines called mucosa to diverticulum formation in the intestines, cause structural problems. Diseases such as colitis , anal fissure, and hemorrhoids are considered structural disorders.

The types of intestinal diseases that are common in society are as follows:

Diarrhea: Diarrhea is a disorder in which the stool is in a watery, liquid form. In addition, diarrhea may cause the need to go to the toilet frequently. Diarrhea may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Diarrhea that lasts for a few days and goes away on its own usually does not cause any significant problems in adults. However, it should be kept in mind that diarrhea that lasts longer may be a symptom that develops due to reasons such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease.
Constipation: Constipation is a disorder characterized by difficult defecation, passing stool less than 3 times a week, and decreased bowel movements. The most common cause of constipation is not enough fiber in the diet. Consuming fibrous foods, exercising regularly, and going to the toilet without delay when stuck on the toilet are very effective in both improving and preventing constipation. It should not be forgotten that when constipation continues for a long time, as in diarrhea, this condition may occur due to another underlying cause. Long-term constipation can lead to problems such as anal fissure and hemorrhoids.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as spastic colon, occurs as a result of the large intestine muscles contracting more or less than normal. Certain foods, medications, and emotional stress can trigger irritable bowel disease. In irritable bowel disease, symptoms such as abdominal pain, excessive gas, diarrhea or constipation, bloating, and changes in bowel habits (going to the toilet more frequently, having waterier stools, etc.) may be observed. Methods such as avoiding foods that trigger the disease, reducing caffeine consumption, consuming fiber-rich foods, and drinking plenty of fluids are effective in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, medications can also be used in the treatment of irritable bowel disease.
Hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids occur as a result of dilation of blood vessels in the anal canal. Hemorrhoids can be divided into two main groups: internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids occur when the blood vessels inside the anal canal swell. These blood vessels, which are swollen as a result of stretching during defecation, may bleed, descend downwards and prolapse from the anus. In the treatment of internal hemorrhoids, ligation or surgical intervention can be performed to eliminate the problem in the blood vessels, as well as lifestyle changes to prevent constipation. External hemorrhoids are the enlargement of the veins on the outside of the anus, just under the skin. Sometimes the strain that occurs when passing stool causes these vessels to burst and a blood clot to form in the affected area. The area where the clot forms becomes very painful and may disturb the person. External hemorrhoid treatment involves removing the clot and hemorrhoid under local anesthesia.
Anal Fissure: Anal fissure is the presence of cracks and openings in the skin in the area where the anal opening is located. Anal fissure usually occurs as a result of passing stool that is too solid or too watery. Cracks in the anal opening cause the muscles that control the passage of stool to appear. These muscles become irritated when they come into contact with feces or air. As a result, symptoms such as severe pain, spasm, and bleeding occur as a result of bowel movements. Treatment of anal fissure includes consuming fibrous foods and using painkillers. Taking a sitz bath in warm water can also be good for anal fissure. If these methods are inadequate for treatment, surgical intervention may be required.
Colitis: Colitis is a general name given to the condition that occurs as a result of inflammation in the intestines. Inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, infection, radiation exposure may cause the development of colitis. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common types of inflammatory bowel diseases. In these diseases, inflammation begins in the intestinal mucosa and this may spread to the inner layers of the intestine. Again, inflammation in the intestine can affect a larger part of the intestine over time. Symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding are among the most common symptoms in inflammatory bowel diseases, as in other colitis. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system attacks their own intestinal cells as a result of consuming gluten. As gluten consumption continues, damage to the intestine becomes more severe and nutrient absorption mechanisms in the person’s intestines may be disrupted. This situation causes problems in the nutrition of celiac patients. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion; It is one of the common symptoms of celiac disease.
Diverticulitis: Diverticula is the name given to finger-like protrusions that form outward from the intestinal wall. Diverticula are common, especially in older ages. Most diverticula do not cause any problems. However, in cases where diverticula become inflamed, bleed, or cause obstruction in the intestine, a condition called diverticulitis develops. Diverticulitis treatment is based on the severity of the disease. While sometimes relieving constipation is sufficient for treatment, in some cases antibiotics or even surgical intervention may be considered.
Colon Polyps and Cancer: Colon polyps; They are small finger-like protrusions that form into the large intestine. While these protrusions generally do not cause any problems at the polyp stage, they may turn into colon cancer in the future. For this reason, if polyps are noticed, the necessary tests for cancer vaccination must be performed and, if necessary, the polyps must be removed from the colon. Colon cancer is a very common type of cancer in society. If it is detected late, treatment success decreases. Therefore, it is important to have colon cancer screenings regularly and to detect the presence of a possible cancer early. For colon cancer screening, every individual over the age of 50 must have a fecal occult blood test every two years and a colonoscopy every ten years. Individuals whose screening results are normal, while waiting for the next control time; It would be beneficial for people with suspicious findings in the screening results to immediately consult a healthcare institution for further tests.

What are the symptoms of intestinal diseases?

Although the symptoms seen in intestinal diseases vary depending on the disease, they basically include similar symptoms. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, nausea; It is among the most common symptoms of intestinal diseases. Seeing blood in the stool, fever and weight loss are also common in people with intestinal problems. People who show symptoms of intestinal problems are advised not to ignore this situation and to apply to a health center for necessary checks.

Which Department Looks at Intestinal Diseases?

The question “Which doctor to see for intestinal problems?” is frequently asked. The department of intestinal diseases is gastroenterology. Gastroenterology diagnoses and treats diseases related to the digestive system and liver. Tests such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, barium tests, intestinal or stomach biopsy are performed in this section. Surgical treatment of diseases such as colon cancer, hemorrhoids and diverticulitis is performed by the general surgery department. Intestinal problems are a condition that negatively affects a person’s health and causes serious problems in daily life. Therefore, people who have intestinal problems should not neglect these problems and should definitely seek advice from a specialist. People over the age of 50 should have colon cancer screening tests and follow the results, even if they do not have any bowel-related complaints.