Digestive system diseases run the gamut from mild and acute to severe and life-threatening. Understanding the nature of various digestive system diseases can help you spot the warning signs of these more serious conditions.

Digestive System Diseases

Amebic Dysentery
Certain ameba can enter the digestive system and can infect the bowels and cause ulcers. Other complications include dehydration, liver infection, brain and liver abscess – even intestinal bleeding and colitis.

Bowel Obstruction
When the digestive tract is blocked, it can result in swelling, cramping, constipation, vomiting and blood-stained bowels. Treatment requires a visit to the hospital in order to identify what is causing the obstruction. It could be a tumor, scar tissue, inflammation or infection. Cancer and hernias are other potential causes of bowel obstruction.

Celiac Disease
When a person is diagnosed with celiac disease, he or she cannot eat any foods containing gluten from barley, wheat and rye. The gluten breaks down the lining of the intestine and blocks that organ’s ability to take in nutrients. Symptoms of this digestive system disease include rashes, weight loss, bloating, diarrhea, pain and osteoporosis.

Colorectal Cancer
This serious condition is when cancerous cells occur in the colon or rectum. Although there are no significant early symptoms of colorectal cancer, many people notice a slight change in bowel habits and possibly an increase in diarrhea. Early treatment is key to keeping this cancer under control.

Shigellosis
A bacteria causes shigellosis, which infects the intestines. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps and bloody diarrhea. Poor hygiene transmits the disease with fecal-oral contact. Severe dysentery is a result of the shigellosis infection and children are particularly at risk. In developing countries this digestive system disease results in millions of deaths each year.

Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas is a serious condition. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, it results in abdominal pain, appetite loss, swelling and nausea, fever and dehydration. Low blood pressure and shock may occur in extreme cases of acute pancreatitis and death can even occur as the heart, lungs or kidneys could fail.