Intestinal Diseases

There are different intestinal diseases:

Typhoid (Enteric fever / Typhoid fever)

It is a type of prolonged fever whose duration is usually about three weeks. The attack of typhoid germs occurs in the mucosal lymphoid tissues of the last part of the small intestine which are called Peyer’s patches. In these, inflammation occurs. There are complaints of abdominal cramps and pain, drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night. Disturbing dreams occur, appetite decreases and thirst increases. Sometimes nosebleed also occurs. When these symptoms become severe, the patient becomes bedridden. In the first week fever is high, in the second week normal, in the third week decreases and in the fourth week it completely subsides. If proper treatment is not given, the fever returns after the second or third month. In this fever the body becomes hot and there is burning in hands and feet.

In this disease the Salmonella germs attack the last part of the small intestine which immediately increases heat. The patient becomes very weak, tongue and lips become dry and coated. A brown and yellowish coating forms on the tongue. If constipation occurs, then small rashes appear on the body which are called “rose spots”. If not treated properly, the disease may worsen and turn into jaundice.

The above symptoms indicate that laboratory tests are not necessary. The following tests are usually done for typhoid:

1- Widal Test
2- E.S.R
3- Typhy Dot
4- Stool culture

Tests explanation

1- Widal Test (Widal Test):

It is an antigen-antibody reaction in which the presence of Salmonella germs is detected. This test is negative in the first week of disease while in the second week it becomes positive. In this test it is written like this:

In these boxes plus (+) signs are marked. If plus signs appear up to 1:160 or beyond, the test is considered positive. In children O becomes positive first and in adults H becomes positive first.

Note:

1- After starting treatment with English medicines, the test becomes negative after two weeks but again from the third week it remains positive for up to six months even though temperature etc. is gone.
2- In some patients typhoid symptoms are not present but the test comes positive. This is because this test is not only specific for typhoid but also some organisms similar to typhoid can also make it positive, for example: arthritis, inflammatory fever, joint swelling, liver diseases, hepatitis or cirrhosis of liver, kidney disease (Nephrotic Syndrome) etc. Therefore patient symptoms must also be considered along with test report.
3- For further diagnosis stool culture should be done.
4- The final test for typhoid diagnosis is Typhy Dot. If this test is also positive then it is confirmed typhoid.

Constipation

Stool after 22–24 hours after eating is normal. If it comes after that it is considered constipation. It has three forms:

1- Due to excess cold and lack of heat constipation occurs. In this condition symptoms of cold and mucus appear. Headache, low blood pressure, body fatigue, no desire to move and intestinal movements become slow.

Causes: Excess use of cold and moist foods such as rice, lentils etc., cold weather, cold and mucus condition.

2- In this condition due to excess gas in abdomen and dryness of stomach and intestines severe and chronic constipation occurs.

Causes: Excess use of dry foods such as lentils, chickpeas, bakery items etc.

3- In this condition due to blockage in abdomen cramps occur. Heat in body causes burning in hands and feet, stool does not pass freely.

Causes: Excess use of hot foods, spices and spicy items.

Diarrhea

In this disease food is not properly digested. Undigested food irritates intestines due to which stool comes mixed with mucus and watery. These stools are so excessive that all eaten food comes out. Water already present in body also decreases. Due to continuous diarrhea patient becomes weak due to lack of nutrition. Saliva starts flowing from mouth. Sometimes white blisters appear. Blood pressure becomes low and whole body becomes cold. Dizziness occurs while walking or sitting.

Causes: Excess use of mucous foods, eating unnecessarily, overeating, accumulation of forbidden foods in stomach, heavy foods.

Dysentery

In this disease food is not properly digested. Undigested food irritates intestines due to which stool comes mixed with mucus and watery. These stools are so excessive that all eaten food comes out. Water already present in body also decreases. Due to continuous diarrhea patient becomes weak due to lack of nutrition. Saliva starts flowing from mouth. Sometimes white blisters appear. Blood pressure becomes low and whole body becomes cold. Dizziness occurs while walking or sitting.

Causes: Excess use of mucous foods, eating unnecessarily, overeating, accumulation of forbidden foods in stomach, heavy foods.

Ulcerative Colitis

When bile falls excessively on intestines it removes the mucous layer and scrapes them due to which they get injured and blood vessels open and bleeding starts. Then pain, restlessness and cramps occur above and below the navel in intestines. Stool comes mixed with blood with sound. Modern research calls it “amoebic dysentery”. Amoeba enters through food and reaches large intestine and causes inflammation of mucous membrane due to which severe cramps and dysentery start. Stool contains blood and mucus in large quantity. Amoeba is also found in stool.

Causes: Excess use of hot foods, working in strong sunlight.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Immediately after eating food there is urge for defecation. Due to gas movement stool comes out quickly. After that relief occurs. Sounds of gas and rumbling come from abdomen and mild pain is also present. Despite desire to eat everything, appetite is poor. Due to frequent stools patient becomes weak, anemia occurs, breathlessness, foamy foul stools occur. Patient becomes anxious. Blood pressure becomes low and body becomes cold. Nightmares and fear occur even signs of death appear.

Causes: Excess use of mucous, hard to digest and gas forming foods, eating unnecessarily, sleeping after meals, sensitive nature, sleep disturbances.

Colic

It starts from digestive system disorder. Due to excess gas abdomen becomes bloated, severe pain occurs around navel due to trapped gas which relieves on pressing. If disease increases pressing causes pain. Severe constipation, nausea and vomiting occur. Patient becomes restless due to severe pain. Face becomes worried, body becomes cold and sweating occurs. Sometimes fever also occurs. If urine stops in this condition it may be dangerous.

Causes: Heavy, gas producing, constipating and hard to digest foods like bread, chickpeas, cold items etc., trapped gas in abdomen, overeating.

Intestinal Worms

There is mild abdominal pain and gas. When stomach is empty and hunger occurs it feels like something is coming up. Excess saliva flows from mouth. Patient grinds teeth during sleep. Lips become dry and stool becomes soft. After eating nausea occurs, stool is undigested and sometimes worms are visible. There are three types of worms:

1- Round worms
2- Tapeworm-like worms
3- Thread worms

1- Round worms:

These are found in small intestine. They are white and 4 to 10 inches long.

Causes: Eating soil, stale food.

2- Tapeworm-like worms:

These look like pumpkin seeds. They are found in large intestine and can be 5 to 20 feet long. They break and come out through stool. Causes headache, bad breath, cramps, pale face and increased appetite.

Causes: Excess use of dry and hot foods.

3- Thread worms:

These are small thin white worms about 1 cm long found near anus. Causes itching at night.

Causes: Excess use of hot foods.

Appendix

Appendix is about 5 inches long, pouch-like structure closed at one end, hanging at lower part of cecum. If a line is drawn from navel to iliac spine and divided into three parts, appendix is found in lower 1/3 part. Pain occurs on pressing this area.

Nature: Usually appendix tube gets blocked by foreign material, hard stool or bacteria. With proper treatment infection resolves but sometimes swelling forms around appendix which prevents spread of infection. This can be felt by hand. If infection becomes severe appendix may rupture or abscess may form. In this condition pain increases. WBC count increases up to 16000 cm while urine test, X-ray and ultrasound remain normal.

Symptoms: This disease can occur at any age after two years. Initially mild abdominal pain occurs then pain settles near navel. Continuous urge for stool occurs with vomiting and nausea. Pain is continuous.

Causes: blockage of appendix tube by stool or infected material

Rectal prolapse

In dysentery repeated straining causes weakness and prolapse occurs in anal region called “Dhandri”. It is mostly in children.

Causes: Excess use of hot dry foods and spices.

Fistula

This disease has three types:

1- complete tract from inside to outside
2- external side only
3- internal side only

Third type is very dangerous. Burning and pain occurs during defecation. Yellow fluid, blood or pus flows from opening. Pressing causes discharge.

Causes: Excess meat eating and alcohol, repeated laxatives, long-term dysentery, hemorrhoid infection, watching obscene films.

Hernia

Abdominal wall near navel and groin is weak. Due to pressure a part of intestine comes out under skin and swells abnormally called hernia. It sometimes becomes ball-like swelling. Vomiting, constipation and severe pain occur. Relief occurs on pressing area.

Causes: Excess use of gas forming foods.

Navel displacement (IBS)

Sometimes displacement of navel causes dysentery and cramps which do not respond to medicines. Navel check methods are given.

Causes: Weakness, slipping from height, heavy lifting, gas forming foods, spices.

Gas Trouble

Normally gas is formed in everyone’s stomach. In normal conditions its quantity is different in every person, therefore its small amount is not harmful. When it increases in severity it causes extreme discomfort. At this stage proper treatment should be taken otherwise it leads to pain, stretching, tension and such complicated problems which cannot be diagnosed through blood tests or even ultrasound does not provide any clear guidance.

Gas enters our stomach in two ways:

1- During eating or due to any other reason air enters the stomach through the mouth. This is not of much importance. In this way the amount of swallowed gas in a normal human is approximately 500 ml daily. It mostly contains nitrogen gas.

2- In intestines, bacteria act on starch and produce gas. This includes hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane (CH4) gas. Most gas in intestines is produced in the large intestine due to fermentation of waste matter by bacteria. Another reason is that some foods contain sugars which are not digested and they produce gas, such as beans etc. Sometimes gas is felt in the stomach because a part of the stomach is slightly above the fundus level. Food does not reach this part. During digestion, gas produced in the stomach accumulates in this part. When all these forms of gas are not released, the patient feels anxiety, heaviness in heart, negative effect on brain, less sleep and more mental fatigue.

There are three forms of it:

1- The stomach feels full of gas but it does not come out, however with some work, movement or activity it starts releasing without sound.

Causes: Excess use of hard-to-digest, gas forming and mucous foods.

2- In this condition gas is produced in large quantity in the stomach which gets trapped and causes severe discomfort. This gas is released in the form of loud sound (flatulence). After its release immediate relief is felt.

Causes: Excess use of sour, hard-to-digest and gas forming foods.

3- In this condition very little gas is produced. It is released immediately after formation and sometimes along with straining some material also comes out. There is burning sensation in the anus.

Causes: Excess use of hot and dry foods.