Condition Lookup

Intestinal Obstruction

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; bloating; nausea and vomiting; inability to pass stool or gas; abdominal distension

Root Cause:
Partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen, caused by adhesions, tumors, hernias, or impacted stool.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, abdominal X-rays, CT scan, ultrasound, and blood tests to check for dehydration or infection.

Treatment:
Non-surgical management includes IV fluids, nasogastric tube decompression, and bowel rest; surgery is required for complete obstructions, strangulation, or ischemia.

Medications:
Pain management with opioids (e.g., morphine ), antiemetics for nausea (e.g., ondansetron ), and antibiotics (e.g., metronidazole , ceftriaxone ) if infection or peritonitis is suspected.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Accounts for 20% of emergency hospital admissions for acute abdominal pain.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prior abdominal or pelvic surgery, intestinal adhesions, hernias, tumors, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely treatment, but delayed management can result in bowel ischemia, perforation, and sepsis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bowel ischemia, perforation, sepsis, and death if left untreated.

Lactose Intolerance

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Malabsorption Syndromes

Symptoms:
diarrhea; bloating; gas; abdominal pain; nausea after consuming dairy products

Root Cause:
Insufficient production of lactase enzyme in the small intestine, leading to inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Lactose tolerance test, hydrogen breath test, stool acidity test for infants and children.

Treatment:
Dietary management by avoiding lactose-containing foods or using lactase enzyme supplements.

Medications:
Lactase enzyme supplements (e.g., Lactaid) can help digest lactose.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 65% of the global population, with higher prevalence in Asian, African, and Native American populations.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic predisposition, age-related decline in lactase production, gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., celiac disease, Crohn's disease) affecting the small intestine.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with appropriate dietary adjustments; symptoms resolve when lactose is avoided or enzymatically digested.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., calcium, vitamin D) if dairy products are not replaced with alternative sources.

Short Bowel Syndrome

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Malabsorption Syndromes

Symptoms:
diarrhea; steatorrhea; weight loss; fatigue; nutritional deficiencies; dehydration

Root Cause:
Reduced absorptive capacity of the small intestine due to surgical removal or congenital defect, leading to malabsorption of nutrients, fluids, and electrolytes.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Medical history of intestinal surgery or congenital abnormality, imaging studies (e.g., CT scan, MRI), and tests to evaluate nutrient levels.

Treatment:
Nutritional support (parenteral nutrition, enteral feeding), dietary modifications (high-calorie, low-fat diet), and medications to slow intestinal transit or enhance absorption.

Medications:
GLP-2 analogs (e.g., teduglutide ) to improve intestinal absorption, antidiarrheal agents (e.g., loperamide ), and proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole ) to reduce gastric acid.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an estimated incidence of 3 per million people per year.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Intestinal surgery (e.g., for Crohn's disease, cancer, trauma), congenital defects (e.g., gastroschisis), or ischemic bowel disease.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; depends on the remaining length and function of the intestine. With appropriate management, many patients can achieve nutritional independence.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic diarrhea, malnutrition, dependence on parenteral nutrition, liver dysfunction, and bacterial overgrowth.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Digestive Disorders

Symptoms:
bloating; diarrhea; abdominal pain; flatulence; unintended weight loss; malnutrition symptoms like fatigue and anemia

Root Cause:
Excessive growth of bacteria in the small intestine, disrupting normal digestion and nutrient absorption. Often linked to motility disorders, structural abnormalities, or changes in gut flora.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed using breath tests (e.g., hydrogen/methane levels) or small bowel aspirate cultures.

Treatment:
Treated with dietary changes, probiotics, and antibiotics such as rifaximin or metronidazole.

Medications:
Antibiotics like rifaximin or metronidazole are commonly prescribed to reduce bacterial overgrowth. Prokinetics (e.g., erythromycin or prucalopride ) may be used to improve motility, and nutritional supplements are given for deficiencies.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Exact prevalence is unknown but more common in individuals with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes, or previous gastrointestinal surgery.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Conditions that impair small intestinal motility (e.g., scleroderma, diabetes), anatomical abnormalities (e.g., diverticula), or previous surgery (e.g., gastric bypass).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment; relapses are common if the underlying condition isn’t addressed.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic malnutrition, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies (A, D, E, K), osteoporosis, and small intestine damage if left untreated.

Intussusception

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Structural Disorders

Symptoms:
sudden severe abdominal pain; vomiting; red jelly-like stools; lethargy; abdominal swelling

Root Cause:
Telescoping of one part of the intestine into another, leading to obstruction and compromised blood supply.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Ultrasound showing a “target” or “doughnut” sign, abdominal X-ray, or CT scan; confirmed during surgery if imaging is inconclusive.

Treatment:
Air or barium enema reduction is often diagnostic and therapeutic; surgery is indicated if enema reduction fails or if complications are suspected.

Medications:
Pain relief with acetaminophen or ibuprofen , and antibiotics (e.g., ampicillin , cefotaxime ) postoperatively to prevent infection.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children under 3 years, with an incidence of 1–4 cases per 1,000 live births.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male sex, viral infections, Meckel’s diverticulum, intestinal polyps, or lymphoid hyperplasia.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with prompt diagnosis and treatment; recurrence occurs in 5–10% of cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bowel necrosis, perforation, peritonitis, and sepsis.

Meckel’s Diverticulum

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Structural Disorders

Symptoms:
painless rectal bleeding; abdominal pain; intestinal obstruction; signs of anemia in chronic cases

Root Cause:
Congenital remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct, forming a small pouch in the small intestine that may harbor ectopic tissue (e.g., gastric or pancreatic).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Meckel’s scan using technetium-99m, abdominal CT, MRI, or exploratory surgery.

Treatment:
Surgical resection (diverticulectomy or segmental bowel resection) if symptomatic.

Medications:
Post-surgical antibiotics (e.g., cefazolin , metronidazole ) to prevent infection, and pain management with acetaminophen or NSAIDs.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Present in 2% of the population; symptomatic cases are rare, occurring in approximately 4–6% of affected individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male sex, younger age (most symptomatic cases occur in children under 10), and ectopic tissue presence.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent after surgical treatment; asymptomatic cases may remain undetected for life.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Intestinal obstruction, volvulus, perforation, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Tropical Sprue

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Malabsorptive Disorders

Symptoms:
chronic diarrhea; steatorrhea (fatty stools); abdominal cramps; bloating; weight loss; fatigue; nutritional deficiencies (e.g., b12 and folate deficiency)

Root Cause:
A poorly understood condition affecting the small intestine, leading to malabsorption of nutrients, likely caused by environmental or infectious factors in tropical regions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, blood tests showing nutritional deficiencies, stool tests to exclude other infections, and small bowel biopsy showing villous atrophy.

Treatment:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics like tetracycline combined with folate and vitamin B12 supplementation for malabsorption correction.

Medications:
Tetracycline (an antibiotic effective against intestinal infections) and folic acid or vitamin B12 supplements for nutritional support.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Limited to tropical and subtropical regions; prevalence is higher in residents and long-term visitors to these areas.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Long-term residence in or travel to tropical regions, exposure to contaminated food or water, and poor sanitation.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment, but relapses can occur if untreated or if the individual returns to the same environment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe malnutrition, anemia, and prolonged nutritional deficiencies if untreated.

Whipple’s Disease

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Infectious Disorders

Symptoms:
chronic diarrhea; abdominal pain; weight loss; arthritis; fever; lymphadenopathy; neurological symptoms (e.g., cognitive changes)

Root Cause:
Caused by Tropheryma whipplei, a Gram-positive bacterium that affects the small intestine and other organs, leading to systemic inflammation and malabsorption.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Small bowel biopsy showing periodic acid–Schiff (PAS)-positive macrophages, PCR testing for Tropheryma whipplei, and blood or cerebrospinal fluid tests if systemic involvement is suspected.

Treatment:
Long-term antibiotic therapy, starting with intravenous ceftriaxone or penicillin, followed by oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 1–2 years.

Medications:
Ceftriaxone or penicillin (initial intravenous treatment) followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (a sulfonamide combination for extended therapy).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, affecting approximately 1–3 cases per million people annually, typically seen in middle-aged Caucasian males.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Unknown; may include genetic predisposition or environmental exposure.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if treated early; without treatment, the disease is usually fatal. Relapses are possible and require monitoring.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Systemic involvement affecting the heart (endocarditis), central nervous system, and joints, potentially leading to life-threatening outcomes if untreated.

Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Tumors

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; unexplained weight loss; intestinal obstruction; anemia; blood in stool

Root Cause:
Uncontrolled growth of malignant epithelial cells originating in the small intestine, often due to genetic mutations or chronic inflammation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Imaging studies (CT scans, MRI, PET scans), endoscopy, biopsy, blood tests (including tumor markers like CEA or CA19-9).

Treatment:
Surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, and in some cases, targeted therapy.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (antimetabolite), oxaliplatin (platinum-based agent), or capecitabine (oral antimetabolite). Targeted therapies like pembrolizumab (immune checkpoint inhibitor) may also be used.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, accounting for approximately 3-5% of gastrointestinal cancers and less than 1% of all cancers.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of gastrointestinal cancers, genetic syndromes (e.g., Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis), chronic inflammation (e.g., Crohn’s disease), and diet high in red or processed meat.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies by stage; localized tumors have a better prognosis (5-year survival rate ~65%), while advanced/metastatic disease has a poor prognosis (~10-20% 5-year survival).

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Intestinal obstruction, perforation, metastasis to the liver or lymph nodes, and paraneoplastic syndromes.

Lymphoma of the Small Intestine

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Small Intestine Disorders

Sub-category: Tumors

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; nausea; weight loss; diarrhea; intestinal obstruction; fever; night sweats

Root Cause:
Malignant proliferation of lymphocytes in the small intestine, often associated with immune dysregulation or infections.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopic biopsy, imaging (CT scans, PET scans), blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, and immunophenotyping.

Treatment:
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy; surgery may be required in some cases of localized disease.

Medications:
Chemotherapy agents like CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide , doxorubicin , vincristine , prednisone ), and monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab (anti-CD20 agent).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; accounts for 1-4% of gastrointestinal malignancies and 30-40% of primary gastrointestinal lymphomas.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Immunodeficiency (e.g., HIV/AIDS, post-transplant), chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., celiac disease), and infections (e.g., Helicobacter pylori, Epstein-Barr virus).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on subtype and stage; indolent types have a good prognosis (5-year survival rate ~80%), while aggressive types have lower survival rates (~30-50%).

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Intestinal perforation, obstruction, bleeding, malabsorption, and systemic spread to other lymphoid or non-lymphoid tissues.