GASTROINTESINAL INFECTIONS

Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, is an uncomfortable feeling in the chest or under the xiphoid process that occurs during or after eating, and may have one or a combination of symptoms that include abdominal fullness, bloating, and gas. Indigestion is common in adults and can occur once in a while or as often as every day.Symptoms are :

Fullness during a meal. The person feels overly full soon after the meal starts and cannot finish the meal.
Bothersome fullness after a meal. The person feels overly full after a mealit may feel like the food is staying in the stomach too long.
Epigastric pain. The epigastric area is between the lower end of the chest bone and the navel. The person may experience epigastric pain ranging from mild to severe.
Epigastric burning. The person feels an unpleasant sensation of heat in the epigastric area.

2.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in which the stomach contents move up into the esophagus. Reflux becomes a disease when it causes frequent or severe symptoms or injury. Reflux may damage the esophagus, pharynx or respiratory tract.

The main symptom is heartburn, often described as a fiery feeling in one's chest, and regurgitating sour or bitter liquid to the throat or mouth. The combination of heartburn and regurgitation is such a common characteristic of GERD that formal testing may be unnecessary.

3.DIARRHEA

is a common problem. Sometimes, it's the only symptom. At other times, it may be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss.

Luckily, diarrhea is usually short-lived, lasting no more than a few days. But when diarrhea lasts beyond a few days into weeks, it usually means that there's another problem such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or a more serious disorder, including ongoing infection, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Symptoms are :

- Belly cramps or pain.
- Bloating.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Fever.
- Blood in the stool.
- Mucus in the stool.
- Urgent need to have a bowel movement.

4.IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system. The condition is often lifelong, although the symptoms may change over time. With the right strategies, IBS can be successfully managed. IBS does not pose a serious threat to your physical health and does not increase your chances of developing cancer or other bowel-related conditions. The exact cause of IBS is unknown. Many causes have been suggested but none have been proven to lead to IBS.Main symptoms

- Abdominal (stomach) pain and cramping, which may be relieved by moving your bowels
- A change in your bowel habits such as diarrhoea, constipation or sometimes both
- Bloating and swelling of your stomach
- Excessive wind (flatulence)
- Occasionally experiencing an urgent need to move your bowels

5.Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For most people, hepatitis B is short term, also called acute, and lasts less than six months. But for others, the infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts more than six months. Having chronic hepatitis B increases your risk of developing liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis a condition that permanently scars the liver. Most adults with hepatitis B recover fully, even if their symptoms are severe. Infants and children are more likely to develop a long-lasting hepatitis B infection. This is known as a chronic infection. Symtoms are

Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weakness and fatigue
- Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, also called jaundice

For more informations, please contact Peter on 0811944826 or email to pgbarton@hotmail.co.uk