Gastrointestinal Conditions

Question 1

Summary of what acute gastroenteritis is

Answer 1

an infectious condition which presents with pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Can be caused by bacteria or viruses and results in inflammation of the GI tract

Question 2

Causes of gastroenteritis (3)

Answer 2

food containing pathogens
medication
contamination

Question 3

Where and with who is gastroenteritis more common?

Answer 3

areas in poor sanitation
winter months
elderly and children

Question 4

Symptoms of gastroenteritis

Answer 4

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, loss of appetite, fever, chills and aching limbs

Question 5

complications of gastroenteritis

Answer 5

dehydration
haemodynamic instability

Question 6

Symptoms of appendicitis

Answer 6

right iliac pain but in the early stages pain may be in the umbilical region
nausea, vomiting, low grade pyrexia, rebound tenderness

Question 7

What is cholecystitis

Answer 7

an obstruction of the cystic duct leading from the gall bladder to the duodenum - usually by gallstones

gall bladder becomes inflammed and red and bile cannot empty

Question 8

What often causes gall stones to form?

Answer 8

abnormal metabolism

high cholesterol and bilirubin

gall bladder doesnt empty properly

= chemical imbalance

Question 9

Risk factors for cholecystitis (5)

Answer 9

age, diet, obesity, high cholesterol, imbalance of oestrogen

Question 10

Describe the route to developing cholecystitis

Answer 10

liver secretes bile which has a chemical imbalance = inflammation = bile less soluble = cholesterol, calcium and bilirubin develop into gallstones = poor/absent blood flow to the gall bladder = cholecystitis

Question 11

Symptoms of cholecystitis (9)

Answer 11

RUQ pain, pain may radiate to chest and shoulders, increased gas, vomiting, fever, sweating, loss of appetite, jaundice and a bulge in the abdomen

Question 12

Which two conditions come under inflammatory bowel disease

Answer 12

ulcerative colitis and Chron’s

Question 13

Where does ulceration start in ulcerative colitis

Answer 13

starts in the rectum and travels up the colon

Question 14

what does ulceration in the colon cause

Answer 14

bleeding and pus production

Question 15

Risk factors for ulcerative colitis (4)

Answer 15

ages 15-30
Middle aged
Genes
Stress

Question 16

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis (11)

Answer 16

rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, urgency to go to the toilet, weight loss, fever, fatigue, dehydration, joint pain, canker sores, irritated and red eyes and erythema nodosum

Question 17

stages of ulcerative colitis

Answer 17

proctitis - proctosigmoiditis - left sided - extensive colitis - pancolitis - toxic colitis

Question 18

What can toxic colitis result in

Answer 18

trapped gas, enlarged colon

colon can split causes septicaemia

loss of blood flow can lead to shock

Question 19

Treatment for ulcerative colitis

Answer 19

relieve symptoms and prevent them from returning

medication: amino salicylates, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants

surgery to remove all or part of the colon, stoma can be created (ileostomy)

Question 20

Where does Chron’s affect?

Answer 20

autoimmune condition that affects any part of the GI tract and can be in patches

Question 21

inflammation is an effect of Chron’s disease, what can this inflammation lead to?

Answer 21

oedema, ulceration, fissures and abscesses

Question 22

Risk factors for Chron’s disease

Answer 22

genes
younger adults
middle aged adults

Question 23

Symptoms of Chron’s disease (7)

Answer 23

rectal bleeding, spasm of the oesophagus, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and tiredness

Question 24

Complications of Chron’s disease

Answer 24

malnutrition, anaemia, vitamin D deficiency and impaired growth

Question 25

Treatment for Chron’s

Answer 25

medicines to reduce inflammation - steroid tablets

medicines to stop inflammation occuring again

surgery to remove a small part of the digestive system

Question 26

IBS overview

Answer 26

common long term condition of the digestive system

symptoms are similar to those in IBD

linked to food passing too quickly or too slowly through the digestive tract

can be managed with lifestyle changes

Question 27

Where will pancreatitis pain be?

Answer 27

LUQ or epigastric region

Question 28

Common causes of pancreatitis

Answer 28

alcohol abuse, gallstones, trauma, elevated calcium levels and certain medications

Question 29

Symptoms of pancreatitis (10)

Answer 29

pain that can radiate to the back, nausea, vomiting, fever, tachycardia, hypotension, jaundice, weight loss, Grey Turner’s sign and Cullen’s sign

Question 30

What are Grey Turner’s and Cullen’s signs?

Answer 30

GT = bruising to the flanks
C = bruising around the umbilicus

Question 31

complications of pancreatitis

Answer 31

internal bleeding and diabetes

Question 32

Symptoms of bowel obstruction

Answer 32

feeling full, constipation, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, lack of appetite, tachycardia, dark coloured urine and distension

Question 33

Bowel sounds in a bowel obstruction

Answer 33

early = high pitched tinkling sounds
late = reduced/absent