lower gastrointestinal disease

Question 1

function of the lower GI tract?

Answer 1

absorbs water and electrolytes to form a stool

Question 2

inflammation of the GI tract can cause:

Answer 2

appendicitis, and colitis

Question 3

cancer of the GI tract is called:

Answer 3

colorectal cancer

Question 4

what is acute appendicitis?

Answer 4

sudden onset of inflammation of the appendix, caused by obstruction of the appendix by a feacality (stool), calculus (stone), tumour or worms causing increased pressure and bacterial invasion

Question 5

symptoms of acute appendicitis?

Answer 5

pain in umbilical region and right lower abdomen, nausea and vomiting, reduced appetite

Question 6

signs of acute appendicitis?

Answer 6

tenderness and guarding, fever, high WBCC

Question 7

how is appendicitis treated?

Answer 7

antibiotics, open / laparoscopic surgery

Question 8

common infection associated with the GI tract?

Answer 8

clostridium difficile - found in the gut of 1 in 30 people. the infection is usually harmless and kept in control by other bacteria

Question 9

how do antibiotics cause problems for c.diff patients?

Answer 9

antibiotics change the balance of bacteria in the gut, so c.diff multiplies and produces toxins that make the person ill. the infection can survive as spores for long periods of time

Question 10

what is meant by ‘spores’?

Answer 10

resistant bacteria cells

Question 11

symptoms of clostridium difficile infection?

Answer 11

diarrhoea, pain, fever

Question 12

antibiotics CAUSING c.diff?

Answer 12

clindamycin, ciprofloxacin

Question 13

antibiotics that can treat c.diff?

Answer 13

vancomycin, metrondiazole

Question 14

what is inflammatory bowel disease?

Answer 14

chronic inflammatory conditions such as crohns disease and ulcerative colitis

Question 15

describe crohn’s disease?

Answer 15

inflammatory bowel disease mainly affecting the lower small intestine. it spreads unevenly.

Question 16

morphology of crohns disease?

Answer 16

ulceration at all layers (transmural ulceration); thickened walls, granulomas, fissures and fistale

Question 17

symptoms of crohn’s disease?

Answer 17

abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea and vomiting

Question 18

complications of crohns disease?

Answer 18

fistula’s, anaemia, malabsorption, skin, eye, joint involvement, bowel obstruction, perforation

Question 19

describe ulcerative colitis?

Answer 19

IBD affecting the rectum and colon, it spreads continuously from the rectum

Question 20

morphology of ulcerative colitis?

Answer 20

ulceration of the first layer (mucosal ulceration) of the bowel, dilated bowel

Question 21

symptoms of ulcerative colitis?

Answer 21

diarrhoea with blood and mucus

Question 22

complications of ulcerative colitis?

Answer 22

blood loss, electrolyte disturbances, toxic dilation or the bowel, skin, eye, joint and liver involvement

Question 23

drugs to manage inflammatory bowel disease?

Answer 23

steroids, amino salicylates, immunosuppressant’s, biological agents

Question 24

surgery to manage inflammatory bowel disease?

Answer 24

colectomy / resection, ileostomy, strictureplasty

Question 25

risk factors of bowel cancer

Answer 25

age, family history, inherited conditions, ashnkenazi jewish, benign polyps, dietary factors, inflammatory bowel disease

Question 26

signs and symptoms of bowel cancer

Answer 26

blood per rectum, diarrhoea, constipation, iron deficiency anaemia, weight loss, abdo pain, lump in rectum, bowel obstruction - pain, bloating, vomiting, unable to pass wind