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Coeliac disease - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment Coeliac disease (pronounced see-lee-ak) is a lifelong inflammatory condition that primarily affects the small intestine. It is characterised by an intolerance to a food protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, oats, barley, and rye. This intolerance to gluten causes the body to produce antibodies that damage the lining of the small intestine and makes it difficult for the body to absorb vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from food. Coeliac disease is sometimes referred to as gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE) or coeliac sprue.  Who gets coeliac disease? Both genetic (inherited) and environmental factors play a part in the development of coeliac disease. The condition is hereditary and if one family member suffers from the condition then there is a 10-15% chance that an immediate family member will also have the condition.  The average age of diagnosis of coeliac disease is approximately 40 years but it can o...

Crohn's disease - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment Crohn’s disease is a chronic (long-term) inflammatory disease of the bowel (intestines). It primarily affects the small and large bowel, but can occur anywhere in the digestive tract. The inflammation causes uncomfortable and bothersome symptoms and can result in severe damage to the digestive tract. Abdominal pain, diarrhoea and weight loss are the most obvious symptoms. Making a definitive diagnosis is difficult, possibly requiring many different tests performed over a long period of time. General information Crohn’s disease is one of the two major types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the other being ulcerative colitis. The main difference between the two conditions is that, whereas Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, ulcerative colitis affects only the large bowel and the rectum.   Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are believed to be autoimmune diseases, where the body rea...

Gallstones - causes, symptoms, treatment Gallstones are crystal-like deposits that form in the gallbladder - a small organ under the liver that stores the digestive fluid, bile.  The stones may stay in the gallbladder and cause no symptoms, or they may irritate the gallbladder wall or block gallbladder ducts, resulting in infection, inflammation and upper abdominal pain. It is possible for the infection to spread to the liver or pancreas. Treatment can range from pain relief to surgery.  General information The gallbladder is part of the digestive system. It is a pear-shaped, sac-like structure approximately 8 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, located alongside the stomach and attached to the lower surface of the liver. The function of the gallbladder is to concentrate, store, and excrete bile ( a fluid that helps in the digestion of fat).  Bile has several components including cholesterol, bile salts, and bile pigments (eg: bilirubin). It is these chemicals that can crys...

Gastroenteritis - causes, symptoms, treatment Gastroenteritis is the irritation of the digestive track caused by a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Treatment mainly involves symptom relief and fluid replacement. Gastroenteritis is also known as a tummy bug, stomach flu, intestinal flu, food poisoning, and traveller’s diarrhoea.   It is a common condition, mainly because the microbes that can cause gastroenteritis are easily spread via contaminated food or water, and through person-to-person contact. The infection causes the digestive tract to become irritated, which results in diarrhoea and other symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain and cramping. Causes The most common cause of gastroenteritis is a viral or bacterial infection, and less commonly parasitic infection.  The most common causes of viral gastroenteritis are norovirus and rotavirus. Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmon...

Haemorrhoids - causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention Haemorrhoids (also known as piles) are swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum or anus. Typical symptoms are pain, itching and bleeding around the anal area. Treatment and prevention will often involve non-prescription ointments, other home treatments and lifestyle changes. Haemorrhoids that don’t clear up may require a visit to your doctor and, in some cases, minor surgery. Causes Haemorrhoids are caused by an increase in pressure in the lower rectum from:  straining during bowel movements sitting for long periods of time, especially on the toilet chronic (long lasting) constipation or diarrhoea being overweight or obese pregnancy anal intercourse low-fibre diet spinal cord injury poor posture. Haemorrhoids are common and occur in most people at some stage during their lives. They tend to occur more frequently later in life due to age-related weakening and stretching of the tissues supporting the vein...

Heartburn (acid reflux) - causes, treatment, prevention Heartburn, also referred to as acid reflux, is a painful burning sensation in the chest. It is a symptom of a digestive system problem. Lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications are used to treat and prevent heartburn. General information Heartburn is a form of upper abdominal / chest pain.  It is important that you take steps to ensure that any discomfort you are experiencing is in fact heartburn, and not another health condition. Medical assistance should be sought urgently if you experience severe chest pain, especially if accompanied by symptoms of shortness of breath, arm pain, dizziness, and/or cold sweats. These symptoms may indicate a more serious medical condition such as a  heart attack  . Occasional heartburn occurs in most people and does not require a visit to the doctor. However, heartburn that is frequent (more than twice a week) or persists despite the use of over-the-counter medicatio...