Small intestine Flashcards
What does GALT stand for ?
Gut associated lymphoid tissue
How is the small intestine investigated ?
CT scan MRI Capsule endoscopy Endoscopy (duodenum) H2 breath tests or cultures
What does Vit A deficiency lead to ?
Night blindness
What does Vit K deficiency cause ?
Increase in PT time so takes longer for blood to clot
What does a decrease in Vit C lead to ?
Scurvy
What does lack of Vit B cause ?
Memory problems
What does lack of Vit D and Ca lead to ?
Tetany and osteomalacia
What diseases commonly show with mouth ulcers and clubbing ?
Crohn’s disease and Coeliac
What is it that people with Coeliac’s are allergic to ?
Gliadin in gluten
How would you treat someone with Coeliac’s ?
Gluten free diet and refer to a dietician
What is Coeliac’s disease associated with ?
PBC and type 1 diabetes
What disease is dermatitis herpetiformis linked to ?
Coeliac’s disease
How do you test for Coeliac’s looking at antibodies and what is the problem?
IgA, some people don’t make it so have to look to see if they produce it first. IgA is produced when your body is attacking its own tissues
What other tests are done for Coeliac’s ?
Duodenal biopsy to look for villous atrophy
Anti-gliadin in children
HLA can be used to rule out Coeliac’s disease
Define maldigestion
Defective hydrolysis of nutrients
Define malabsorption
Defective uptake/absorption of nutrients
What is tropical sprue ?
An infection that causes malabsorption and folate deficiency
How is tropical sprue treated ?
Tetracycline
Who does Whipple’s disease effect ?
Middle aged men’s skin, joints and brain. Presents with weight loss and pain.
What organism causes Whipple’s disease ?
Tropheryma whipplei
How do you treat Whipple’s disease ?
Tetracycline
What other things than infections cause malabsorption ? (4)
Surgery
Radiation
Diabetes
CF
How is a small bacterial overgrowth tested and treated ?
H2 breath test and rotating antibiotics - Amoxicillin, tetracycline and metronidazole for 2 weeks each alongside supplements
How is peritonitis investigated ?
Paracentesis
CT scan
X-Ray
Blood tests
Define acute abdomen
The sudden onset of intense abdominal pain that has been present for less than 24 hours
What things present as an acute abdomen ?
Ischemia
Obstruction
Peritonitis
Bleeding
How is an acute abdomen usually treated ?
Via surgery
