Condition Lookup

Pyloric Stenosis

Sub-category: Structural and Functional Disorders

Symptoms:
forceful projectile vomiting (non-bilious); palpable olive-shaped mass in the abdomen; dehydration; weight loss; persistent hunger

Root Cause:
Thickening of the pyloric sphincter muscle, causing narrowing of the passage between the stomach and duodenum, leading to obstruction.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Ultrasound is the gold standard for diagnosis, showing thickened pyloric muscle. Additional tests may include an upper GI series (contrast study) for confirmation.

Treatment:
Surgery (pyloromyotomy) to cut the thickened muscle and relieve obstruction. Preoperative treatment involves correcting dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Medications:
No long-term medications; immediate care involves IV fluids for dehydration and electrolyte replenishment. Antiemetics like ondansetron may be used temporarily.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 2-3 per 1,000 live births, more common in male infants.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male sex, firstborn status, family history of pyloric stenosis, and macrolide antibiotic use during early infancy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with timely surgical intervention; most infants recover fully without long-term complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance (e.g., hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis), and failure to thrive if left untreated.

Gastritis (Acute and Chronic)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Inflammatory Disorders

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; bloating; belching; indigestion; dark stools (if bleeding occurs)

Root Cause:
Inflammation of the stomach lining caused by factors such as Helicobacter pylori infection, excessive alcohol consumption, NSAID use, or autoimmune disorders.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Through patient history, physical examination, endoscopy with biopsy, and testing for H. pylori (urea breath test, stool antigen test, or blood antibody test).

Treatment:
Addressing the underlying cause (e.g., H. pylori eradication, reducing NSAID use), lifestyle modifications, and symptomatic relief.

Medications:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole or lansoprazole to reduce stomach acid. H2-receptor antagonists such as ranitidine or famotidine to reduce acid production. Antibiotics (if H. pylori is present) like amoxicillin , clarithromycin , and metronidazole for bacterial eradication. Antacids for temporary relief of symptoms.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common worldwide; chronic gastritis is prevalent in up to 50% of the global population, with higher rates in developing countries due to H. pylori.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic H. pylori infection, long-term NSAID use, excessive alcohol intake, smoking, stress, autoimmune conditions, older age.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment; acute cases often resolve quickly, while chronic cases require ongoing management to prevent complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Peptic ulcers, gastric bleeding, anemia, increased risk of gastric cancer (especially in chronic cases linked to H. pylori).

Helicobacter pylori Infection

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Bacterial Infections

Symptoms:
upper abdominal pain; nausea; bloating; loss of appetite; frequent burping; unintentional weight loss; dark stools (if ulcers or bleeding occur)

Root Cause:
Infection of the stomach lining with H. pylori bacteria, which disrupts the protective mucosal barrier and induces inflammation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urea breath test, stool antigen test, blood antibody test, or endoscopy with biopsy for histology, urease testing, or PCR.

Treatment:
Eradication therapy with a combination of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications.

Medications:
Antibiotics such as amoxicillin , clarithromycin , and metronidazole or levofloxacin (used in combination for eradication therapy). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole or esomeprazole to reduce stomach acid and enhance antibiotic effectiveness. Bismuth-containing compounds (e.g., bismuth subsalicylate ) in quadruple therapy regimens.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 50% of the global population, with higher prevalence in developing countries.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor sanitation, contaminated food or water, close contact with infected individuals, living in crowded or resource-limited settings.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent if treated promptly; eradication significantly reduces the risk of gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, increased risk of gastric cancer.

Gastroparesis (Delayed Gastric Emptying)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Structural and Functional Disorders

Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting; bloating; early satiety; abdominal pain; unintentional weight loss; heartburn

Root Cause:
Impaired motility of the stomach muscles prevents proper emptying of stomach contents into the small intestine, often associated with vagus nerve damage or autonomic dysfunction.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through gastric emptying studies (scintigraphy), upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy to rule out obstruction, and breath tests (e.g., carbon-labeled meal breath test).

Treatment:
Dietary changes (small, low-fat meals), medications to improve gastric motility, and in severe cases, gastric electrical stimulation or feeding tubes.

Medications:
Metoclopramide (dopamine antagonist) is often prescribed to improve stomach contractions. Domperidone (dopamine antagonist) is another option available in some regions. Erythromycin (macrolide antibiotic) can enhance gastric motility as a side effect. Antiemetics such as ondansetron or promethazine may be used to manage nausea.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 0.2% of the general population; higher prevalence among individuals with diabetes or post-surgical complications.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Diabetes mellitus, prior gastric surgery, systemic diseases like scleroderma, infections, and certain medications (e.g., opioids, anticholinergics).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies; many cases improve with dietary changes and medications, but severe cases may lead to malnutrition and require surgical interventions.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Malnutrition, dehydration, bezoars (hardened masses of undigested food), and severe weight loss.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Structural and Functional Disorders

Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting (often projectile); abdominal bloating; early satiety; unintentional weight loss; upper abdominal pain

Root Cause:
Blockage at the pylorus or first part of the duodenum due to peptic ulcers, tumors, scarring, or inflammation, leading to impaired gastric emptying.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed using upper GI endoscopy, contrast-enhanced X-rays (barium swallow), or abdominal CT scans to identify the cause of obstruction.

Treatment:
Endoscopic dilation of the obstruction, medications to reduce inflammation (e.g., proton pump inhibitors for ulcer-related obstructions), and surgical interventions (e.g., gastrojejunostomy).

Medications:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole or pantoprazole are used for ulcer healing. Antiemetics such as ondansetron may address nausea. Antibiotics might be necessary if Helicobacter pylori infection is involved.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Uncommon in the general population but seen in individuals with untreated peptic ulcers or gastric tumors.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic NSAID use, untreated H. pylori infection, gastric tumors, and prior gastric surgeries.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally favorable if the underlying cause is identified and treated; untreated obstructions can lead to severe dehydration and malnutrition.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Malnutrition, severe dehydration, metabolic alkalosis from repeated vomiting, and gastric perforation if untreated.

Gastric Ulcers

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Peptic Ulcer Disease

Symptoms:
burning or gnawing pain in the stomach; bloating; nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; unexplained weight loss; dark or black stools (indicating bleeding); vomiting blood or coffee-ground-like material

Root Cause:
Gastric ulcers are sores that develop on the stomach lining due to the breakdown of the protective mucosal layer, often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection or the prolonged use of NSAIDs.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), biopsy during endoscopy to check for H. pylori, urea breath test, stool antigen test, and blood tests for anemia.

Treatment:
Eradication of H. pylori infection if present, reduction of stomach acid production, lifestyle modifications (dietary changes, smoking cessation), and avoidance of NSAIDs.

Medications:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole , pantoprazole , or esomeprazole reduce stomach acid production. H2 receptor blockers such as ranitidine or famotidine are used for acid reduction. Antibiotics like clarithromycin , amoxicillin , and metronidazole for H. pylori eradication. Antacids and cytoprotective agents like sucralfate or bismuth subsalicylate to protect the stomach lining.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Gastric ulcers affect approximately 5-10% of the global population during their lifetime, with higher rates in individuals over 60 years of age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
H. pylori infection, chronic NSAID use, smoking, alcohol consumption, high-stress levels, and a family history of peptic ulcers.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With appropriate treatment, most gastric ulcers heal within 6-8 weeks. Eradicating H. pylori significantly reduces the recurrence rate.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bleeding, perforation of the stomach wall, penetration into adjacent organs, gastric outlet obstruction, and increased risk of stomach cancer.

Duodenal Ulcers

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Peptic Ulcer Disease

Symptoms:
burning stomach pain that improves with eating or drinking; bloating; belching; nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; unexplained weight loss; dark or tarry stools; vomiting blood or material resembling coffee grounds

Root Cause:
Duodenal ulcers are sores in the lining of the first part of the small intestine, commonly caused by H. pylori infection or chronic NSAID use, leading to acid-related damage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy, urea breath test, stool antigen test, and biopsy for H. pylori detection; blood tests may also identify anemia associated with bleeding ulcers.

Treatment:
Treatment involves acid suppression, eradication of H. pylori, lifestyle changes, and avoiding irritants like NSAIDs.

Medications:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole or lansoprazole reduce acid secretion. Antibiotics like clarithromycin , amoxicillin , and metronidazole are used to treat H. pylori infection. H2 receptor blockers such as ranitidine or famotidine provide acid reduction. Cytoprotective agents like sucralfate and bismuth subsalicylate enhance mucosal protection.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Duodenal ulcers are more common than gastric ulcers, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 10-15%, particularly among younger adults and males.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
H. pylori infection, NSAID use, smoking, high-stress levels, excessive alcohol consumption, and a family history of peptic ulcers.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most duodenal ulcers heal within 4-6 weeks with appropriate treatment. H. pylori eradication substantially reduces recurrence.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bleeding, perforation, penetration into adjacent organs, duodenal obstruction, and rarely an increased risk of cancer in the duodenum.

Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Stomach Cancer

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; unexplained weight loss; nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; early satiety; blood in stool; fatigue

Root Cause:
Malignant transformation of the gastric mucosal cells, often associated with chronic inflammation, H. pylori infection, genetic predisposition, or dietary carcinogens.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy with biopsy, imaging studies (CT scan, MRI, PET), blood tests for tumor markers (e.g., CEA, CA 19-9), and staging procedures.

Treatment:
Surgical resection (gastrectomy), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy (e.g., HER2 inhibitors for HER2-positive tumors).

Medications:
Treatment may include chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (antimetabolite), cisplatin (platinum-based alkylating agent), and trastuzumab (HER2-targeted monoclonal antibody) for HER2-positive cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
One of the most common types of stomach cancer, with higher rates in East Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
H. pylori infection, smoking, high salt intake, diet low in fruits and vegetables, chronic gastritis, family history of gastric cancer, genetic syndromes (e.g., Lynch syndrome).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the stage at diagnosis; early detection improves survival rates significantly, but advanced cases have poorer outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Metastasis to other organs (liver, lungs, peritoneum), gastrointestinal bleeding, obstruction, and malnutrition.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Stomach Tumors

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; gastrointestinal bleeding; early satiety; nausea; vomiting; unexplained weight loss

Root Cause:
Tumors arising from the interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract, often due to mutations in the KIT or PDGFRA genes.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy, biopsy with immunohistochemistry (testing for KIT/CD117 positivity), CT scan, MRI, and PET scan for staging.

Treatment:
Surgical resection for localized tumors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like imatinib for advanced or metastatic cases.

Medications:
Imatinib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) is the first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic GISTs. Other options include sunitinib and regorafenib for imatinib-resistant cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively rare, accounting for less than 1% of gastrointestinal cancers, with a higher incidence in adults over 50.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of GISTs, genetic mutations, age over 50, and association with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent prognosis for localized GISTs treated surgically; variable outcomes for advanced cases depending on response to TKI therapy.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Tumor rupture, peritoneal spread, liver metastases, and gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation.

Lymphoma of the Stomach

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Stomach Disorders

Sub-category: Stomach Lymphomas

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; bloating; weight loss; nausea; vomiting; fatigue; fever; night sweats; loss of appetite

Root Cause:
Malignant proliferation of lymphoid tissue in the stomach, often linked to chronic H. pylori infection or immune suppression.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy with biopsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, imaging (CT, PET scan), and bone marrow biopsy for staging.

Treatment:
Eradication of H. pylori with antibiotics if associated, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy (e.g., rituximab), or a combination depending on the lymphoma type.

Medications:
Antibiotics (for H. pylori-associated cases, e.g., amoxicillin and clarithromycin ), rituximab (CD20 monoclonal antibody), and chemotherapy agents like cyclophosphamide , doxorubicin , vincristine , and prednisone (CHOP regimen).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Represents less than 5% of all stomach cancers, with a higher prevalence in individuals with chronic H. pylori infection.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
H. pylori infection, autoimmune disorders, immunosuppression, and family history of lymphoma.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies by type and stage; early-stage cases have a good prognosis, particularly with H. pylori eradication, while advanced cases depend on response to chemotherapy.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Gastrointestinal bleeding, obstruction, perforation, and spread to lymph nodes or other organs.