Digestive System Pathologies Flashcards
What is oral thrush?
A fungal infection of the mouth
Sign of low immunity
Not contagious
What is Candida albicans?
Fungus that causes oral thrush
List three signs/symptoms of oral thrush…
- White patches on the oral mucosa (that can be wiped off)
- Red/raw appearance to underlying tissue
- Loss of taste or an unpleasant taste
Allopathic treatment for oral thrush?
Antifungals
Natural treatment for oral thrush…name 2 anti fungal dietary treatments
- Oregano oil
- Garlic
- Apple cider vinegar
- Grapefruit seed extract
- probiotics and eliminate refined and simple sugars
Name three possible causes of mouth ulcers…
- Physical trauma and hot food/liquids
- Nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, folate and vitamin b12)
- Stress (fight or flight)
- GIT pathologies such as Crohn’s disease
What are cold sores?
A viral infection that lies dormant and activates when immunity is low.
The virus migrates along the nerve to the skin or mucosa around the mouth causing tingling/ burning sensation
Name the cause / risk factor of cold sores…
Herpes simplex virus (normally type 1) > triggers include stress, steroid use, trauma, local infections, sunlight exposure.
What is an abscess?
A localised pocket of pus surrounded by inflammation. A defensive reaction of the tissue to prevent spread of infection elsewhere
Name 3 signs and symptoms of an abscess…
- Pain and redness
- Local swelling
- Fever, malaise
What is gingivitis
Is a bacterial infection of the gums
What might gingivitis progress to if left untreated?
Periodontal disease (pathology of the bone around teeth)
Symptoms of gingivitis include bleeding and receding gums. Name 5 causes…
- Plaque build up, poor dental hygiene, dental amalgams.
- Long-term steroid use
- Diabetes mellitus
- Smokers
- Poor nutrition
Describe angular stomatitis
Fissuring and dry scaling of the surface of the lips and angles of the mouth.
Name 3 causes of angular stomatitis
- Vitamin B deficiencies: Riboflavin (B2) and folic acid (B9)
- Iron deficiency
- Candida albicans (opportunistic) and staphylococcus
What is the term to describe a dry mouth due to reduced or absent flow of saliva.
Xerostomia
What is Sjogrens syndrome?
Auto immune attack on the exocrine glands
List 4 complications of Xerostomia
- Candidiasis
- Gingivitis
- Tonsillitis
- Halitosis
What does teratogen mean?
Something causing embryo malformation
Chemo, radiation, alcohol, excess vitamin A, anti convulsant medications, smoking, substance abuse
What is a cleft lip?
Malformation of the lip in the embryonic development
Can be unilateral or bilateral, complete or incomplete
What is a cleft palate?
Malformation of the hard palate in embryonic development.
Causing difficulty in speech, feeding and hearing
List 3 causes of Cleft lip/palate…
- Genetic defects
- Environmental (maternal disease, dietary)
- Teratogens (chemo, radiation etc…)
Oral cancer is carcinoma of the oral mucosa, lip or tongue. Name 3 causes
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- HPV infection
Name two signs and symptoms of oral cancer…
- Red or white patches on oral mucosa or tongue
2. Difficulty eating and breathing
Describe salivary calculi…
Metabolic imbalance affecting mineral concentration resulting in stone formation in one of the salivary glands.
Salivary Calculi can abrade the gland wall causing inflammation, fibrosis and blockage. Name 3 causes of salivary calculi…
- Dehydration
- Abnormal calcium metabolism
- Sjogrens syndrome
Signs and symptoms of salivary calculi
Intermittent pain and swelling of the affected gland, particularly when eating - ‘mealtime syndrome’. There may also be a palpable mass
What is tonsillitis ?
Inflammation of the tonsils
names 3 signs and symptoms of tonsillitis …
- Red, sore and painful tonsils
- Fever over 38 degrees
- Coughing
- Headache
- Pus
Tonsillitis can cause otitis media, what is otitis media?
Middle ear infection
What does GORD stand for?
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease
Explain what GORD (acid reflux) is …(what happens)
The lower oesophageal sphincter relaxes and acid regurgitates from the stomach into the oesophageal.
Give the medical term for heartburn…
retrosternal pain
List 3 possible trigger foods (or drink) for GORD…
- Spicy foods
- fatty foods
- alcohol
- Caffeine
- carbonated beverages
- onions
- chocolate.
List 3 triggers (not foods) that may cause GORD…
- Obesity
- Hiatus Hernia
- Pregnancy
- Stress
List three possible complications of GORD….
- Ulcers
- Barretts oesophagus
- cancer
What is Barretts oesophagus?
Barrett’s oesophagus is a medical condition where some of the cells in your oesophagus grow abnormally.
Acid reflux damage causes the lining of the oesophagus to thicken and become red.
Name two natural treatments for GORD…
- Avoiding trigger foods
- Aloe vera
- Slippery elm
- Weight loss (if overweight)
- Eating smaller meals
What is an Hiatus Hernia?
Part of the stomach protrudes (herniates) into the thoracic cavity through an opening in the diaphragm
List 3 possible causes of Hiatus hernia…
Increased abdominal pressure:
- Heavy lifting
- Hard coughing / sneezing
- Violent vomiting
- Pregnancy
- Straining with constipation
- Obesity
- Smoking, drug abuse, stress.
What does dysphagia mean?
Difficulty swallowing
Oesophageal cancer is a common aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. List a possible cause and a possible risk factor…
Cause: Chronic irritation, alcohol, smoking
Risk factor: GORD, Barretts Oesophagus
What is acute gastritis?
Acute (sudden) inflammation of the stomach mucosa causing breakdown of the stomach lining.
What are prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are lipid autacoids derived from arachidonic acid. They both sustain homeostatic functions and mediate pathogenic mechanisms, including the inflammatory response.
One of the causes of acute gastritis is Helicobacter pylori, what is this?
Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that can live in the digestive tract (these can infiltrate when acid pH levels are low)
Another possible cause of acute gastritis is NSAID’s (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) what compound in the GI tract does this lower the levels of…
Lowers prostaglandin
Another common cause of acute gastritis is alcohol, food poisoning and stress. Name two signs / symptoms of acute gastritis…
- Epigastric pain
2. Nausea / vomiting
Chronic Gastritis?
Chronic stomach mucosal inflammation for more than 4-6 weeks.
Fill in the missing words in regards to chronic gastritis…
Prolonged low-grade 1______ resulting in 2______ and hence loss of elasticity and 3______.
- Inflammation
- Fibrosis
- Peristalsis
What are the 3 causes of chronic gastritis (ABC)?
A - Autoimmune
B - Bacterial - H pylori
C - Chronic irritation eg long term NSAIDS.
Peptic ulcers are ulcers of the GI mucosa. Commonly affects which two areas …
- proximal duodenum
2. lesser curvature of the stomach
Whats the difference in signs and symptoms between peptic ulcers in the gastric area compared to the duodenum…
Gastric - epigastric pain, 30-60 mins after eating, less often at night.
Duodenal - epigastric pain 2 - 3 hours after eating and at night. (pain generally occurs on an empty stomach)
80% of the time Peptic ulcers are due to H.Pylori bacterial infection, list 3 other possible causes
- NSAIDS; Disrupt mucous barrier, lowers stomach bicarbonate, disrupts blood flow.
- Stess - Sympathetic nervous system dominance - can often cause ischaemia (inadequate blood supply) resulting in defective tissue.
- Chronic gastritis
What is dumping syndrome
Loss of control of gastric emptying.