Digestive, Reproductive, and Urinary Issues

Question 1

Crohn’s Disease

Answer 1

Inflammation of part or multiple parts of the intestine that causes the walls to thicken. Presents as abdominal pain, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, anal fissures (tube like groves/passages). Treated w/ antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and colectomy in severe cases.

Question 2

Ulcerative Colitis

Answer 2

Chronic inflammation and ulceration of the colon, presents as bloody diarrhea containing pus/mucus, abdominal pain, severe urgency to make a BM, fever, weight loss, dehydration, treated w/ anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, edemas, change in diet, and colectomy/ileostomy in severe cases.

Question 3

Diverticula

Answer 3

Bulging pouches in the GI tract push parts of the mucosal lining through the muscle forming little polyps.

Question 4

Diverticulitis

Answer 4

When fecal matter gets into diverticula and infects them causing inflammation. Presents as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, bloating, constipation. Treated w/ high-fiber diet, brans, stool softeners, and in severe cases surgery.

Question 5

Acute Cholecystitis

Answer 5

Severe inflammation of gall bladder, caused by gall stones, presents as upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, low fever, chills. Diagnosed w/ a HIDA bile scan and cholecystography. Treated w/ bowel rest, analgesics, antibiotics for infection, cholecystectomy to remove gall stones.

Question 6

Celiac Disease

Answer 6

Gluten induced small intestinal disorder, that damages the mucosal lining. Presents as weight loss, anorexia, large greasy smelly yellow/gray stools, sharp muscle contractions, anemia, and skin issues. Treated w/ a lifelong change in diet, and vitamin supplements.

Question 7

Hemorrhoids

Answer 7

Dilated anal veins either internally or externally. Causes rectal bleeding and anal discomfort and itching.

Question 8

GERD (Acid Reflux)

Answer 8

Back of gastric juices into the esophagus, past the lower esophageal sphincter, causes inflammation and damage to lining of esophagus. Presents as burning, heartburn, dry cough, and possible nausea. Treated w/ changes in diet to reduce acid, elevating head at bedtime, eating smaller meals, Antacids, in severe cases surgery.

Question 9

Cirrhosis

Answer 9

Irreversible degenerative disease of the liver, caused by alcoholism. Presents as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, weight loss, edema, pruritus and jaundice. Treated w/ total removal of alcohol, antacids, and in eventually liver transplant.

Question 10

Peptic Ulcer

Answer 10

Patches either in the lower esophagus or stomach that become eroded by acid, caused by H. Pylori bacteria, too many NSAIDS, or hyperactive acid secretion disorder in stomach. Presents as chronic heartburn, GI bleeding, bloody stool (hematochezia), weight loss. Treated with antibiotics to kill the bacteria, antacids, and surgery in severe cases.

Question 11

Colorectal cancer

Answer 11

Malignant neoplasms in colon/rectum. Presents as rectal bleeding, blood in stool, diarrhea, and constipation. Biopsy, blood work, and imaging confirms tumor. Treated w/ chemo, radiation, surgery to remove tumors.

Question 12

Pancreatic Cancer

Answer 12

Malignant neoplasms in pancreas. Presents as radiating abdominal pain, anorexia, jaundice, diarrhea, nausea & vomiting. Needle biopsy, imaging, and blood tests confirm the cancer. Treated w/ chemo and radiation.

Question 13

Cystitis (bladder) / Urethritis (Urethra)

Answer 13

Inflammation of the bladder/urethra caused by growth of bacteria or sexually transmitted organisms. Presents as dysuria, urinary frequency, cloudy, bloody, and smelly urine. Can also have fever, nausea, and low back pain. Treated w/ antibiotics, increased water intake, and analgesics.

Question 14

Pyelonephritis

Answer 14

Kidney infection that damages kidney tissue & function. Caused by several bacteria, presents as fever and pain in the groin/side, pyuria, dysuria, and nocturia. Treated w/ antibiotics for infection, antipyretic (fever reducer) and increased water intake to filter kidney.

Question 15

Glomerulonephritis

Answer 15

Staph causing inflammation in the glomeruli (nerve endings) in the kidney. Allow blood and protein to pass in urine. Causes hypertension headaches, edema around eyes, pain in lumbar, oligura (reduced urine). Treated w/ diuretics, angiotensins for swelling and hypertension, and salt restriction.

Question 16

Renal Calculi (Kidney Stone)

Answer 16

Build up of calcium and other minerals in the kidney. Presents as hematuria, dysuria, urinary frequency, UTI. Treated w/ endoscopic procedure to remove stones, or lithotripsy to break up the stone small enough to pass in urine.

Question 17

Bladder Cancer

Answer 17

Tumor of the cells lining the bladder, Presents as hematuria, dysuria, urinary frequency, UTI. Treated w/ surgery to remove cancerous tissue, if severe enough, bladder is removed, followed by chemo/rad. therapy.

Question 18

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Answer 18

Cancer in kidney(s), presents as hematuria, pain on side, lump/mass on side of abdomen, weight loss, fever, malaise. First treated w/ arterial immobilization, (blocking blood flow to starve cancer), then treated w/ chemo, rad, and immunotherapies.

Question 19

End Stage Renal Disease

Answer 19

Gradual progressive deterioration of kidney function. Caused by diabetes, hypertension, birth defects, & medications. Drowsiness, weight loss, numbness in hands/feet, pruritus (itching), oliguria, decreased alertness & hiccups. Treated w/ dialysis and kidney transplant.

Question 20

Nephrotic Syndrome

Answer 20

Diabetes and Lupus cause inflammation in glomerulus. Presents as edema around eyes, feet, & ankles. Shortness of breath, anorexia, pallor (pale skin), and fatigue. Treated w/ medications to preserve renal function, control hypertension, diuretics, protein restrictive diet.

Question 21

Chronic Kidney Disease

Answer 21

Gradual loss of kidney function. Dangerous levels of fluid and waste build in the body. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle twitches/cramps, itching, chest pain, uncontrollable hypertension. d fatigue. Treated w/ medications to preserve renal function, control hypertension, diuretics, protein restrictive diet.

Question 22

Dialysis

Answer 22

Process to treat renal failure in which water-soluble substances diffuse across a semipermeable membrane-9 to 12 hours of dialysis per week, equally divided among several sessions.

Question 23

Peritoneal Dialysis

Answer 23

Uses patient’s own peritoneum as dialyzing membrane- plastic tube is inserted through abdomen into peritoneal cavity -dialyzing fluid is passed through tube into peritoneal cavity - wastes diffuse across peritoneal membrane into fluid-contaminated fluid drained and replaced with fresh solution.

Question 24

Hemodialysis

Answer 24

Blood is drawn outside body for dialysis in artificial

kidney, or dialyzer- returned to body via tubes connected to circulatory system

Question 25

Inguinal Hernia

Answer 25

A bulge that occurs in your groin region, the area between the lower part of your abdomen and your thigh. Inguinal hernias occur because of a weakening of the muscles in the lower abdomen.