Comprehensive Symptom Navigator

Crohn’s Disease

Category: Large Intestine (Colon) Disorders

Sub-category: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; persistent diarrhea; fatigue; weight loss; fever; mouth sores; blood in stool; reduced appetite

Root Cause:
Chronic inflammation affecting any part of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the ileum and colon, caused by an abnormal immune response to intestinal microbiota.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, colonoscopy with biopsy, capsule endoscopy, CT or MRI enterography, blood tests (e.g., CRP, anemia, hypoalbuminemia), and stool tests.

Treatment:
Treatment involves anti-inflammatory medications, immune modulators, biologic therapies, dietary management, and, in some cases, surgical resection of affected bowel segments.

Medications:
Aminosalicylates (e.g., sulfasalazine , mesalamine ) for mild disease; corticosteroids (e.g., budesonide , prednisone ) for acute flares; immunomodulators (e.g., methotrexate , azathioprine ); biologics (e.g., adalimumab , ustekinumab ) targeting TNF or interleukins; antibiotics (e.g., metronidazole , ciprofloxacin ) for secondary infections or complications.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 780,000 people in the United States; incidence is rising globally, especially in developed nations.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, smoking, urban lifestyle, Western diet, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and younger age (typically diagnosed between 15-30 years).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Chronic condition with variable severity; periods of remission and exacerbation; not curable but manageable; surgery is often needed in severe cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bowel obstruction, fistulas, abscesses, malnutrition, increased risk of colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, and extraintestinal manifestations like skin disorders and joint inflammation.

Mesenteric Ischemia

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Sub-category: Vascular GI Conditions

Symptoms:
sudden severe abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; blood in stool; abdominal distension

Root Cause:
Reduced or completely obstructed blood flow to the intestines due to arterial embolism, arterial thrombosis, or venous thrombosis.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history and physical exam, blood tests (elevated lactate levels), imaging studies (CT angiography is the gold standard).

Treatment:
Immediate resuscitation, anticoagulation (e.g., heparin), thrombolysis, and surgical intervention to remove occlusion or resect necrotic bowel.

Medications:
Anticoagulants like heparin (unfractionated or low-molecular-weight), thrombolytics like alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator), and vasodilators like papaverine (to improve blood flow).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but life-threatening, affecting approximately 0.1-0.2% of hospital admissions; more common in elderly individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Atrial fibrillation, heart failure, atherosclerosis, recent abdominal surgery, hypercoagulable states.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Poor if not treated promptly; mortality rates can exceed 70% for acute cases with bowel necrosis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bowel infarction, perforation, sepsis, multi-organ failure.

Adenocarcinoma

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Large Intestine (Colon) Disorders

Sub-category: Colorectal Cancer

Symptoms:
blood in stool; unintended weight loss; persistent abdominal pain; changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation); fatigue; anemia

Root Cause:
Adenocarcinoma arises from glandular cells lining the colon or rectum, often due to mutations in the APC gene or other tumor-suppressor genes, environmental factors, and lifestyle-related risks.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Colonoscopy with biopsy for histopathological analysis; imaging studies such as CT scans, MRI, and PET scans for staging; blood tests including CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) levels.

Treatment:
Treatment involves surgical resection of the tumor, often combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy based on the stage. Targeted therapies and immunotherapies may also be used.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin (alkylating agent); targeted therapies like bevacizumab (VEGF inhibitor) and cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor); immunotherapies including nivolumab and pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitors).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
The most common type of colorectal cancer, with an incidence of approximately 1.9 million new cases annually worldwide.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age over 50, family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), smoking, high-fat diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, alcohol consumption.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Survival depends on the stage at diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate is over 90% for localized disease but drops significantly for metastatic cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Intestinal obstruction, perforation, metastasis to liver or lungs, cachexia, and recurrence.

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.

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.

Lynch Syndrome (Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Large Intestine (Colon) Disorders

Sub-category: Colorectal Cancer

Symptoms:
early onset colorectal cancer; blood in stool; abdominal discomfort; frequent urination (if urologic cancers develop); unexplained fatigue

Root Cause:
Caused by inherited mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes such as MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, or PMS2, leading to DNA replication errors and a predisposition to cancers.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Genetic testing for MMR gene mutations; MSI (microsatellite instability) testing on tumor samples; family history assessment. Colonoscopy is often performed for screening.

Treatment:
Early-stage colorectal cancers are treated with surgery; advanced cases may involve chemotherapy. Prophylactic surgeries and regular surveillance are crucial for risk management.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and capecitabine (antimetabolites); immunotherapy options like pembrolizumab and nivolumab (PD-1 inhibitors) for MSI-high tumors.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Accounts for 2-4% of all colorectal cancers. Estimated prevalence of 1 in 300 individuals globally.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Positive family history of Lynch syndrome, history of endometrial or other Lynch-associated cancers, and genetic predisposition through MMR gene mutations.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Early detection and proactive surveillance significantly improve outcomes. The overall prognosis is good for those who follow rigorous screening protocols.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Development of additional Lynch-associated cancers (e.g., endometrial, ovarian, gastric), bowel obstruction, or metastasis in untreated cases.

Small Intestine Cancer

Specialty: Oncology

Category: Sarcomas

Sub-category: Rare Cancers

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; unexplained weight loss; nausea; vomiting; jaundice; blood in stool; changes in bowel habits; fatigue

Root Cause:
Small intestine cancer develops in the cells of the small intestine, often affecting the epithelial or neuroendocrine cells. The exact cause is unknown, but genetic mutations and conditions like Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and Lynch syndrome can increase the risk.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is typically through imaging studies like CT scans, MRIs, or endoscopy (e.g., capsule endoscopy or push enteroscopy). Biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis through histological examination of the tumor tissue.

Treatment:
Treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor if detected early. Chemotherapy (e.g., 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine, or oxaliplatin) is often used for advanced disease. Radiation therapy may be used in some cases. Targeted therapy or immunotherapy may also be considered depending on tumor type.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs like 5-fluorouracil (an antimetabolite) and oxaliplatin (a platinum-based chemotherapy drug) are commonly used. Targeted therapies like bevacizumab (an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody) and immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab (an immune checkpoint inhibitor) may be prescribed for advanced or metastatic cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Small intestine cancer is very rare, representing less than 2% of all gastrointestinal cancers. Its incidence is estimated to be about 2-3 cases per 100,000 people per year.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Risk factors include genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and Crohn's disease. Celiac disease and a history of radiation therapy to the abdomen also increase risk.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis depends on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. For localized small intestine cancer, the 5-year survival rate can be as high as 80%, while for metastatic disease, the prognosis is much poorer, with a 5-year survival rate closer to 30%.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Potential complications include bowel obstruction, bleeding, malnutrition, and metastasis to the liver or lymph nodes. In some cases, the cancer can lead to the development of secondary tumors or complications from chemotherapy.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (APC gene mutation)

Specialty: Genetics

Category: Cancer Genetics

Sub-category: Hereditary Cancer Syndromes

Symptoms:
hundreds to thousands of colorectal polyps; blood in stool; abdominal pain; early-onset colorectal cancer

Root Cause:
APC gene mutations cause unregulated cell growth in the colon and rectum, leading to polyp formation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Genetic testing for APC mutations, colonoscopy to identify and biopsy polyps.

Treatment:
Prophylactic colectomy, regular colonoscopy, and chemoprevention with NSAIDs.

Medications:
NSAIDs like sulindac or celecoxib (classified as COX-2 inhibitors) may reduce polyp burden.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 1 in 7,000–22,000 individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of FAP or APC mutation.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with early detection and management; untreated, nearly 100% risk of colorectal cancer by age 40.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Colorectal cancer, duodenal cancer, desmoid tumors, complications from surgery.

Group D Streptococcus (GDS) Infections

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Bacterial Infections

Symptoms:
fever; fatigue; abdominal pain; blood in stool; endocarditis symptoms (e.g., heart murmur); weight loss

Root Cause:
Caused by Streptococcus bovis or Streptococcus gallolyticus bacteria, often linked to colorectal cancer or endocarditis.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood cultures, echocardiography (for endocarditis), and colonoscopy to screen for associated colorectal malignancy.

Treatment:
Prolonged antibiotic therapy; surgical intervention may be required for complications like valve damage.

Medications:
Penicillin G or ceftriaxone (a cephalosporin) for active infections. Vancomycin may be used for beta-lactam allergies.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare compared to other streptococcal infections; associated with 15–65% of colorectal cancer cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age over 50, colorectal malignancies, valvular heart disease, or immunocompromised conditions.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate antibiotic treatment. However, prognosis may depend on the underlying colorectal malignancy or cardiac condition.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Endocarditis, septicemia, and undiagnosed colorectal cancer.