entire stomach or a region.
Manifestations: Include indigestion, heartburn, epigastric pain, abdominal cramping, nausea,
vomiting, anorexia, fever, and malaise.
Hematemesis and dark, tarry stools can indicate ulceration and bleeding.
Causes: excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, stress, or certain medications such as aspi-
rin or anti- inflammatory drugs.
Can also be caused by H. pylori- bacteria that lives in lining of stomach, bile reflux, or infec-
tions.
Acute gastritis - ANSWER Can be a mild, transient irritation, or it can be a severe ulcera-
tion with hemorrhage
Usually develops suddenly and is likely to be accompanied by nausea and epigastric pain
Chronic gastritis - ANSWER Develops gradually. May be asymptomatic, but usually accom-
panied by a dull epigastric pain and a sensation of fullness after minimal intake.
Can be further categorized as erosive or nonerosive. Complications: peptic ulcers, gastric
cancer, and hemorrhage
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,gastritis Treatment - ANSWER Acute is often self-limiting and resolves within 3 days.
Treatment strategies for acute vary depending on the underlying etiology (e.g., antibiotics).
Treatment strategies for chronic include etiology-specific interventions, antacids, acid-re-
ducing agents, and mucosal barrier agents.
Gastroenteritis - ANSWER Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, usually because
of an infection or allergic reaction
GERD - ANSWER gastroesophageal reflux disease- where chyme periodically backs up
from the stomach into the esophagus.
Causes: are certain foods like chocolate, caffeine, carbonated bevs, citrus fruit, tomatoes,
spicy or fatty foods, peppermint, alcohol, nicotine, obesity, pregnancy, and certain medica-
tions.
Complications: overtime the reflux of stomach acid damages the tissue lining of the esopha-
gus and can lead to permanent damage of it and even cancer.
PUD, Peptic ulcer disease - ANSWER lesions affecting the lining of the stomach or duode-
num.
Vary in severity from superficial erosions to complete penetration through the GI tract wall
Develops because of an imbalance between destructive forces and protective mechanisms
Manifestations: epigastric or abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, heartburn, indigestion,
nausea, and vomiting
Duodenal ulcers - ANSWER • Most commonly associated with excessive acid or H. pylori
infections
• Typically present with epigastric pain that is relieved in the presence of food
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,Gastric ulcers - ANSWER • Less frequent but more deadly.
• Typically associated with malignancy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Pain typically worsens with eating.
Stress ulcers - ANSWER • Develop because of a major physiological stressor on the body
due to local tissue ischemia, tissue acidosis, bile salts entering the stomach, and decreased
GI motility.
Curling's ulcers - ANSWER stress ulcers associated with burns
Cushing's ulcers - ANSWER stress ulcers associated with head injuries
H. pylori - ANSWER PUD is most commonly caused by h. Pylori infection or due to NSAIDS
use. If left untreated it can turn into PUD
pseudomembranous colitis C. Diff - ANSWER swelling or inflammation of the large intes-
tine (colon) due to an overgrowth of Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) bacteria. This infection
is a common cause of diarrhea after antibiotic use. also called antibiotic-associated colitis or
C. difficile colitis
Signs and symptoms- watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea,
It is treated with antibiotics that target the infection.
Appendicitis - ANSWER is inflammation of the vermiform appendix
caused by infection
Symptoms are pain near right quadrant of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, ab-
dominal distention, and bowel pattern changes.
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, • Sharp abdominal pain develops, gradually intensifies (over about 12-24 hours), and be-
comes localized to the lower right quadrant of the abdomen (McBurney point).
• Complications: abscesses, peritonitis, gangrene, and death.
• Treatment
• Surgery, either laparoscopic or open, and may include extensive irrigation.
• Drainage tubes.
• Long-term antibiotic therapy.
• Analgesics.
• Avoid activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure (e.g., straining and coughing).
Diverticular Disease - ANSWER development of diverticula, outwardly bulging pouches of
the intestinal wall that occur when mucosa sections or large intestine submucosa layers her-
niate through a weakened muscular layer. The muscular wall can become weakened from
the prolonged effort of moving hard stools.
• Manifestations: abdominal cramping followed by passing a large quantity of frank blood,
low-grade fever, abdominal tenderness (usually left lower quadrant), abdominal distension,
constipation, obstipation, nausea, vomiting, palpable abdominal mass, and leukocytosis
• Treatment: high-fiber diet, omitting foods with seeds or popcorn, decreased food intake
when active bleeding is present, adequate hydration, proper bowel habits (e.g., defecating
when urge is sensed and not straining), stool softeners, antibiotics, analgesics, colon resec-
tion, and blood transfusions
Diverticulosis - ANSWER Asymptomatic diverticular disease, usually with multiple diver-
ticula present
Diverticulitis - ANSWER - Diverticula have become inflamed, usually because of retained
fecal matter
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