Intestinal Conditions

What are intestinal conditions?

Intestinal conditions comprise a number of different illnesses or abnormalities that affect the gastrointestinal tract. These include intestinal obstruction, structural abnormalities of the bowel, celiac disease, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), infections, tumors, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The passage of food residue and waste products through the intestines can be interrupted or halted by the presence of a bowel obstruction. The cause of the obstruction can be mechanical, meaning that there is a physical blockage. Sources of mechanical obstruction include scar tissue, adhesions, foreign bodies, gallstones, tumors, fecal impaction, and volvulus (twisting of the intestines). Ileus, a malfunctioning of the bowel’s movements, is another type of obstruction.

Bowel problems may also occur as a result of problems during fetal development in the womb. For example, malrotation, or failure of the bowel to properly rotate in utero, can cause a blockage or twisting. Malrotation can also result in an incomplete attachment of the mesentery, which secures the placement of the bowels in the abdominal cavity, thus weakening or otherwise destabilizing the bowels.

Other conditions affecting the intestine are a result of inflammation, tearing or ulceration and can cause infection and produce abdominal symptoms, such as diarrhea or constipation, pain, cramping, bloating and nausea. These conditions include diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Intestinal conditions are usually not an emergency situation, but persistent diarrhea, a common symptom, can result in serious dehydration or other serious symptoms. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, inability to pass stool or gas, or vomiting blood.

Seek prompt medical care if you are being treated for an intestinal condition but mild symptoms recur or persist.