Inflammation of the gut Flashcards
What is the function of the small intestine?
Duodenum, jejunum, ileum
- Enzymatic digestion
- Absorption of nutrients
- Immunological
What is the role of the large intestine?
- Storage and elimination of food residues
- Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance
- Bacterial degradation of complex carbohydrates and other nutrients
What is the definition of acute vs chronic diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea is normally defined as chronic or acute by a period of about 4 weeks
- > 4wks is chronic and more likely to be due to an inflammatory process
- <4wks is acute and more likely to be due to an infection
How can the main cause of diarrhoea change depending on the population?
Developed countries: IBD, IBS, malabsorption syndromes, chronic infections
Developing countries: bacteria, mycobacteria and parasitic infections
What is the pathophysiology of diarrhoea?
- Motility disturbance
- Osmotic: liquids being held in the bowel rather than being absorbed
- Permeability defect: active secretions into the bowel
- Defective absorption: nutrients in the lumen draw liquid into bowel
- Abnormal mucosal secretion
What are some nutritional deficiencies associated with an inflammatory bowel condition?
- Anaemia (iron, folate, B12)
- Bleeding (vit K)
- Bone disease (vit D or calcium)
How can an inflammatory bowel condition cause anaemia?
- Blood loss
2. Malabsorption because secretions of the bowel are impt for absorbing diff components of blood
Which type of anaemia is associated with small bowel disease?
Megaloblastic anaemia = folate deficiency
Which type of anaemia is associated with terminal ileum disease?
B12 deficiency - pernicious anaemia - megaloblastic/macrocytic anaemia
What are signs and symptoms of nutritional deficiencies associated with inflammatory bowel conditions?
- Glossitis
- Pallor
- Pigmentation of skin
- Petechiae or bruising
- Muscle pain
- Neuropathy
- Chvostek’s
