Gastrointestinal disorders are a group of conditions that affect the digestive system. The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract—which includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus—and the accessory organs of digestion, such as the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Gastrointestinal disorders can be classified into several main types: functional GI disorders, inflammatory GI diseases, infections and infestations of the GI tract, neoplastic (cancerous) GI diseases, and miscellaneous other GI conditions.
Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are a group of conditions that involve an abnormal function of theGI tract without any detectable structural abnormalities. Functional GI disorders may be further subdivided into motility disorders and secretory disorders. Motility disorders involve problems with the movement of food and liquids through the GI tract. Secretory disorders involve problems with either too much or too little secretion by one or more glands in the digestive system. Common examples of functional GI motility disorders include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia , and gastroparesis . Common examples of functional secretory disorders include dumping syndrome , chronic pancreatitis , VIPoma , Zollinger-Ellison syndrome , and achlorhydria .
Inflammatory gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are a group of conditions characterized by inflammation of the liningof one or more parts of theGI tract. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe two similar but distinct disordersthat cause chronic inflammation in different areasof the intestines: Crohn’s diseaseand ulcerative colitis . Other common inflammatory GIdiseases include celiac disease , infectious enterocolitis , microscopic colitis , and eosinophilic gastroenteritis .
Infectionsand infestationsoftheGI tractarecausedby viruses , bacteria , fungi , parasites , or other microorganisms that invade and multiply withinthedigestive system . Infectious enterocolitisis an infectionofeitherthestomachorintestinethat typically causesdiarrhea ; other symptoms may includevomiting fever abdominal pain and dehydration . Salmonellosis is another formofinfectious enterocolitistypically causedbyingestingfoodorwater contaminatedwithSalmonella bacteria; it can also be caused by contact with infected animals or humans. Common symptomsinclude diarrhea vomiting fever chills muscle aches headache and abdominal cramps . Campylobacteriosisis yet another formofinfectious enterocolitiscausedbyingestingfoodorwater contaminatedwithCampylobacter jejuni bacteria; it issimilar to salmonellosisbut often less severe.(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)