Common GI Tract Symptoms

Common GIT Symptoms

• Gastrointestinal (GI) tract is divided into upper, middle and lower sections.
• The GI tract also includes the liver and biliary tract and the pancreas.
• Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth cavity.
  • Predisposing factors include lack of oral hygiene and immunocompromised status.
  • Types include ulcerative stomatitis (bad mouth odor, ulcers on gum, palate, lips, and inner aspects of cheeks), viral stomatitis, stomatitis due to nutritional deficiency (e.g., cheilitis), and candidiasis (moniliasis).
    • Cheilitis is painful vertical fissures mainly of the lower lip caused by malnutrition.
    • Candidiasis presents as white patches on the tongue and buccal mucosa, and severe infection affects the pharynx and esophagus, causing dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
• Glossitis is inflammation of the tongue.
  • It can be a sign of nutritional deficiency.
  • A red, smooth, sore tongue can be associated with deficiencies in B12, folate, and iron.
• Black hairy tongue is caused by the proliferation of chromogenic microorganisms, leading to brown staining of elongated filiform papillae.
• Leukoplakia is a chronic, white, firm, and smooth patch lesion, frequently starting on the side of the tongue.
  • Initially painless, but later becomes tender.
• Ptyalism (Excessive salivation):
  • Psychogenic, prior to vomiting, secondary to oral pathology (e.g., stomatitis).
• Xerostomia (Dryness of the mouth):
  • Dehydration, Psychogenic, Sjogren's syndrome, radiotherapy, and drugs (anticholinergics and antihistamines).
• Sialadenitis (inflammation of salivary glands): acute sialadenitis can be due to mumps or bacteria.
• Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing.
• Odynophagia: painful swallowing.
• Anorexia and Weight Loss:
  • Causes: Diabetes Mellitus type 1, Hyperthyroidism, Malabsorption, and severe burns.
• Epigastric pain is localized in the upper abdomen.
  • Gastro-intestinal causes:
    • Esophageal spasm, GORD & Oesophagitis, hiatus hernia, gastritis, and peptic ulcer.
• Acid Reflux is the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, causing symptoms and potential complications.
• Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest.
• Water brash is excessive accumulation of saliva from the lower esophagus, and some acid material from the stomach.
• Globus (Globus Hystericus): persistent or intermittent sensation of a lump or foreign body in the throat, specifically occurring between meals.
• Intestinal Tuberculosis, Intestinal Obstruction, and drugs (domperidon or metoclopramide) are intestinal issues.
• Gall bladder issues: Cholecystitis and Gall stones.
• Pancreatic issues: Carcinoma and Acute pancreatitis.
• Bloating is a sense of fullness in the upper abdomen, potentially related to gas and food accumulation in the stomach.
• Flatulence refers to passage of rectal gas.
• Vomiting (emesis) is the involuntary forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth and sometimes the nose.
• Nausea is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit.
• Hematemesis is blood in vomit, with causes such as esophageal varices, acute gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer.
• Melena is digested blood passed in stool.
• Dyspepsia is upper abdominal pain or discomfort related to meals.
  • Symptoms can include fullness, early satiety, burning, bloating, nausea and vomiting.
• Tenesmus is a disease characterized by painful straining during defecation, a sense of incomplete rectal evacuation, and a constant desire to defecate after defecation.
• Diarrhea: Change in normal bowel habits, increase in frequency and amount, and fluid consistency.
  • Chronic diarrhea persists for over four weeks.
• Dysentery is frequent watery stools with blood and mucus, sometimes with tenesmus.
• Hematochezia is fresh bleeding per rectum.
• Constipation: infrequent stools (<3/week), hard stools, incomplete evacuation, and straining during defecation (>1/4 times of defecation).
• Liver and Biliary Tract issues:
  • Jaundice: yellow discoloration of skin and mucous membranes due to increased serum bilirubin.
  • Itching.
  • Anorexia, Nausea, Vomiting.
  • Pain.
  • Fever.
  • Bleeding manifestations.
  • Fluid distension.
  • Altered sensorium.
  • Lump in the abdomen.
  • Breast Enlargement.
  • Parotid Enlargement.
  • Spider Angiomata.
  • Dupuytren's Contracture
• Icterus is another term for jaundice.
• Bilirubinuria is high-colored urine.
• Pruritus is itching.
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
• Ecchymoses.
• Ascites and Malnutrition.
• Gynecomastia is breast enlargement