NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Chronic Viral Hepatitis

In medicine (gastroenterology), hepatitis is any disease featuring inflammation of the liver. The clinical signs and prognosis, as well as the therapy, depend on the cause. See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that are used to treat patients. ... Gastroenterology or Gastrology might be better described as the field of digestive diseases, which are traditionally separated by anatomic or functional category. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... The liver is an organ in vertebrates including humans. ...

Signs and symptoms

Hepatitis is characterised by abdominal pain, fever, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) and jaundice (icterus). Some chronic forms of hepatitis show very few of these signs and only present when the longstanding inflammation has led to the replacement of liver cells by connective tissue; the result is cirrhosis. Abdominal pain can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. ... Fever is also the name of an album by Kylie Minogue. ... Hepatomegaly is an enlargement of the liver (swelling). ... Jaundice, technically known as icterus, is yellowing of the skin, sclera (eyes) and mucous membranes caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the system. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... Connective tissue is any type of biological tissue with an extensive extracellular matrix. ... Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ...

Types of hepatitis

Viral

Most cases of acute hepatitis are due to viral infections: A common alternate meaning of virus is computer virus. ...

Hepatitis A is an enterovirus transmitted by the orofecal route, such as contaminated food. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage. The patient's immune system makes antibodies against Hepatitis A that confer immunity against future infection. A vaccine is available that will prevent infection from hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a disease affecting the liver, and caused by the Hepatitis A virus (abbreviated HAV). ... Originally known as serum hepatitis, Hepatitis B has only been recognized as such since World War II, and has caused current epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa. ... Hepatitis C is a form of hepatitis (liver inflammation) caused by a virus, the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). ... Hepatitis D is a disease caused by a small circular RNA virus (Hepatitis delta virus); this virus is replication defective and therefore cannot propagate in the absence of another virus. ... Signs and symptoms Hepatitis E is a contagious virus that causes acute (non-chronic) hepatitis (severe inflammation of the liver). ... In medicine (gastroenterology), hepatitis is any disease featuring inflammation of the liver. ... Species Polio virus Coxsackie virus Echo virus The enteroviruses are a genus of (+)ssRNA viruses associated with several human and mammalian diseases. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Hepatitis B causes both acute and chronic hepatitis in some patients who are unable to eliminate the virus. Identified methods of trasmission include blood (blood transfusion, now rare), tattoos (both amateur and professionally done), sexually or vertically (from mother to her unborn child). However, in about half of cases the source of infection cannot be determined. Blood contact can occur by sharing syringes in intravenous drug use, shaving accessories such as razor blades, or touching wounds on infected persons. Needle-exchange programmes have been created in many countries as a form of prevention. In the United States, 95% of patients clear their infection and develop antibodies against Hepatitis B virus. However, 5% of patients do not clear the infection and develop chronic infection. Only these people are at risk of long term complications of Hepatitis B. Patients with chronic hepatitis B have antibodies against Hepatitis B, but these antibodies are not enough to clear the infection that establishes itself in the DNA of the affected liver cells. The continued production of virus combined with antibodies is a likely cause of immune complex disease seen in these patients. A vaccine is available that will prevent infection from hepatitis B. Hepatitis B infections result in 500,000 to 1,200,000 deaths per year worldwide due to the complications of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B is endemic in a number of (mainly South-East Asian) countries, making cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma big killers. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells ( red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ... Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. ... This article is about the tattoo, a design in ink or some other pigment, usually decorative or symbolic, placed permanently under the skin. ... Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ... A syringe consists of a plunger fitted to a tube with a small opening on one end used either to inject or suck out a liquid. ... A needle-exchange programme is a social policy based on the philosophy of harm reduction whereby people can obtain hypodermic needles and syringes without a prescription for little or no cost. ... Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ... Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, also called hepatoma) is a primary malignancy (cancer) of the liver. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... In public health, a big killer is a disease or other major cause of loss of human life. ...

Hepatitis C (originally "non-A non-B hepatitis") is probably not transmitted sexually but only by blood contact. It leads to a chronic form of hepatitis, culminating in cirrhosis. It can remain asymptomatic for 10-20 years. No vaccine is available for hepatitis C. However, patients with hepatitis C are prone to severe hepatitis if they contract either hepatitis A or B. Therefore all hepatitis C patients should be immunized against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B if they are not already immune. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ... In medicine, a disease is asymptomatic when it is at a stage where the patient does not experience symptoms. ...

Two other hepatitis viruses are known, hepatitis D and E. The D agent, an RNA passenger virus, cannot proliferate without the presence of hepatitis B virus, because its genome lacks certain essential genes. Hepatitis E produces a picture quite similar to hepatitis A, although it can take a fulminant course in some patients, particularly pregnant women; it is more prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. Hepatitis D is a disease caused by a small circular RNA virus (Hepatitis delta virus); this virus is replication defective and therefore cannot propagate in the absence of another virus. ... Signs and symptoms Hepatitis E is a contagious virus that causes acute (non-chronic) hepatitis (severe inflammation of the liver). ... Hepatitis D is a disease caused by a small circular RNA virus (Hepatitis delta virus); this virus is replication defective and therefore cannot propagate in the absence of another virus. ... Originally known as serum hepatitis, Hepatitis B has only been recognized as such since World War II, and has caused current epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa. ... Genome is also a popular science book by Matt Ridley. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ... Signs and symptoms Hepatitis E is a contagious virus that causes acute (non-chronic) hepatitis (severe inflammation of the liver). ... Hepatitis A is a disease affecting the liver, and caused by the Hepatitis A virus (abbreviated HAV). ... A pregnant woman Pregnancy is the process by which a mammalian female carries a live offspring from conception until it develops to the point where the offspring is capable of living outside the womb. ... The Indian subcontinent is the peninsular region of larger South Asia in which the nations of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka as well as parts of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and some disputed territory currently controlled by China are located. ...

Another kind of hepatitis, hepatitis G, has been identified. In medicine (gastroenterology), hepatitis is any disease featuring inflammation of the liver. ...

For the computer language of the same name, see MUMPS. Mumps or Epidemic parotitis is a viral disease of humans. ... Rubella (also known as epidemic roseola, German measles or three-day measles) is a disease caused by the Rubella virus. ... Species see text Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is a genus of Herpes viruses; in humans the species is known as Human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5). ... The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also called Human herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4), is a virus of the herpes family (which includes Herpes simplex virus and Cytomegalovirus), and one of the most common viruses in humans. ... In colloquial use, herpes virus refers to the herpes simplex virus, particularly when transmitted sexually. ...

Alcoholic hepatitis

Ethanol, mostly in alcoholic beverages, is an important cause of hepatitis. Usually alcoholic hepatitis comes on after a period of increased alcohol consumption. Alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by a variable constellation of symptoms, which may include feeling unwell, enlargement of the liver, development of fluid in the abdomen ascites, and modest elevation of liver blood tests. Alcoholic hepatitis can vary from mild with only liver test elevation to severe liver inflammation with development of jaundice, prolonged prothrombin time, and liver failure. Severe cases are characterized by either obtundation or the combination of elevated bilirubin levels and prolonged prothrombin time; the mortality rate in both categories is 50% within 30 days of onset. Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol or grain alcohol, is a flammable, colorless chemical compound, one of the alcohols that is most often found in alcoholic beverages. ... Alcoholic beverages are drinks containing ethanol, popularly called alcohol. ... In medicine (gastroenterology), ascites is a accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. ... The prothrombin time (PT) and its derived measures of prothrombin ratio (PR) and international normalized ratio (INR) are measures of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. ... Bilirubin is a yellow breakdown product of haem (heme in American English). ...

Alcoholic hepatitis is distinct from cirrhosis caused by long term alcohol consumption. Alcoholic hepatitis can occur in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcoholic hepatitis by itself does not lead to cirrhosis, but cirrhosis is more common in patients with long term alcohol consumption. Patients who drink alcohol to excess are also more often than others found to have hepatitis C. The combination of hepatitis C and alcohol consumption accelerates the development cirrhosis in Western countries. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ... Alcoholic beverages are drinks containing ethanol, popularly called alcohol. ... Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ...

Drug induced hepatitis

A large number of drugs can cause hepatitis. The anti-diabetic drug troglitazone was withdrawn in 2000 for causing hepatitis. Other drugs associated with hepatitis [1] (http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/caz/infc/hepa/hepres.html): http://kimoruni. ... Troglitazone (Rezulin®, Resulin® or Romozin®) is a member of the drug class of the thiazolidinediones. ...

The clinical course of drug-induced hepatitis is quite variable, depending on the drug and the patient's tendency to react to the drug. For example, halothane hepatitis can range from mild to fatal as can INH-induced hepatitis. Oral contraceptives can cause structural changes in the liver. Amiodarone hepatitis can be untreatable since the long half life of the drug (up to 60 days) means that there is no effective way to stop exposure to the drug. Statins can cause elevations of liver function blood tests normally without indicating an underlying hepatitis. Lastly, human variability is such that any drug can be a cause of hepatitis. Structural formula of halothane Halothane vapour is an inhalational general anaesthetic. ... Methydopa (brand names Aldomet, Apo-Methyldopa, Dopamet, Novomedopa) is a centrally-acting antiadrenergic antihypertensive medication. ... In medicine and pharmacology, antihypertensives are a class of drugs that are used in the treatment of arterial hypertension. ... Isoniazid is a first-line antituberculous medication used in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. ... Rifampicin (INN) or rifampin (USAN) is an antibiotic drug of the rifamycin group. ... Tuberculous lungs show up on an X-ray image Tuberculosis is an infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system (meningitis), lymphatic system, circulatory system (miliary TB), genitourinary system, bones and joints. ... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... Phenytoin sodium (marketed as Dilantin® in the USA and as Epanutin® in the UK, by Parke-Davis, now part of Pfizer) is a commonly used antiepileptic. ... Valproic acid or 2-Propylpentanoic acid is CH3CH2CH2CH(CH2CH2CH3)COOH . ... Zidovudine (INN) or azidothymidine (abbreviated to AZT) is an antiretroviral drug, the first antiviral treatment to be approved for use against HIV. It is also sold under the names Retrovir and Retrovis, and as an ingredient in Combivir and Trizivir. ... AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, sometimes written Aids) is a human disease characterized by progressive destruction of the bodys immune system. ... Ketoconazole is a synthetic antifungal drug used to prevent and treat skin and fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients such as those with AIDS. Due to its side-effect profile, it has been superseded by newer antifungals, such as Fluconazole and Itraconazole. ... Nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. ... Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, primary dysmenorrhoea, pyrexia; and as an analgesic, especially where there is an inflammatory component. ... Indomethacin is an indole derived non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. ... Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs, are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects - they reduce pain, fever and inflammation. ... Amitriptyline hydrochloride is an antidepressant drug from the tricyclic antidepressant group, which is sold under the trade names Elavil®, Tryptanol® or Endep®. Its full chemical name is 3-(10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene-5-ylidene)-N,N-dimethyl-1-propanamine hydrochloride and its empirical formula is C20H23N... Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic agent used in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias and the suppression of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. ... Nitrofurantoin (trade names Furadantin, Macrobid, Microdantina, and Macrodantinis) is an antibiotic drug. ... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... Oral contraceptives are contraceptives which are taken orally and inhibit the bodys fertility by chemical means. ... Structural formula of halothane Halothane vapour is an inhalational general anaesthetic. ... Isoniazid is a first-line antituberculous medication used in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. ... Oral contraceptives are contraceptives which are taken orally and inhibit the bodys fertility by chemical means. ... Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic agent used in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias and the suppression of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. ... Lovastatin, the first statin to be marketed The statins form a class of hypolipidemic agents. ...

Other toxins that cause hepatitis

There are about 900 to 1000 species of fungus (mostly mushroom) in the Amanita genus (family Amanitaceae, order Agaricales), which contains some of the most toxic known mushrooms. ... The structure of alpha_amanitin alpha_Amanitin or α_amanitin is a cyclic nonribosomal peptide of eight amino acids. ... General Name, Symbol, Number phosphorus, P, 15 Chemical series Nonmetals Group, Period, Block 15 (VA), 3 , p Density, Hardness 1823 kg/m3, __ Appearance colorless/red/silvery white Atomic properties Atomic weight 30. ... Acetaminophen (USAN) or paracetamol (INN), is a popular analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. ... N-acetylcysteine is a chemical, commonly called NAC, produced by the body that enhances the production of the co-enzyme glutathione, a powerful United States, it is available as an over the counter supplement in health stores and in an oral solution as Mucomyst® that can be ingested or aerosolized... Tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride)CCl4 is a synthetic chemical compound formerly widely used in fire extinguishers and refrigeration, but now largely abandoned due to its toxicity. ... Chloroform (also known as trichloromethane and methyl trichloride) is a chemical compound with formula CHCl3. ... The chemical compound trichloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent. ... General Name, Symbol, Number chlorine, Cl, 17 Series halogens Group, Period, Block 17 (VIIA), 3, p Density, Hardness 3. ... Carbohydrates (literally hydrates of carbon) are chemical compounds that act as the primary biological means of storing or consuming energy, other forms being fat and protein. ... Fatty liver or steatosis hepatis is a reversible condition seen in chronic alcoholism and many other conditions, where large vacuoles of lipid accumulate in hepatocytes (the cells of the liver). ...

Metabolic disorders

Some metabolic disorders cause different forms of hepatitis. Hemochromatosis (due to iron accumulation) and Wilson's disease (copper accumulation) can cause liver inflammation and necrosis. Haemochromatosis, also spelled hemochromatosis, is a hereditary disease characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues, eventually causing organ dysfunction. ... Wilsons disease is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease, with an incidence of about 1 in 30,000. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to unprogrammed death of cells/living tissue (compare with apoptosis - programmed cell death). ...

See below for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), effectively a consequence of metabolic syndrome. As its name signifies, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is fatty inflammation of the liver when this is not due to excessive alcohol use. ... Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that affect a large number of people in a clustered fashion. ...

Cholestatic

Longstanding obstruction of the bile duct (by gallstones or external obstruction by cancer) leads to destruction and inflammation of liver tissue. A bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile. ... In medicine, gallstones are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile components. ... When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ...

Autoimmune

Anomalous presentation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II on the surface of hepatocytes — possibly due to genetic predisposition or acute liver infection — causes a cell-mediated immune response against the body's own liver, resulting in autoimmune hepatitis. The human leukocyte antigen system (HLA) is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen system in humans. ... Hepatocytes make up 60-80% of the cytoplasmic mass of the liver. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ... A request has been made on Wikipedia for this article to be deleted in accordance with the deletion policy. ...

Autoimmune hepatitis has a prevalence of 1-2 per 1000. As with most other autoimmune diseases, it affects women much more often than men (8:1). Liver enzymes are elevated, as is bilirubin. Autoimmune Hepatitis can progress to cirrhosis. Treatment is with steroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. ... Liver function tests (LFTs or LFs), are groups of clinical biochemistry laboratory blood assays designed to give a doctor or other health professional information about the state of a patients liver. ... Bilirubin is a yellow breakdown product of haem (heme in American English). ... Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ... In chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. ... Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs is a category of drugs used in many autoimmune diseases to slow down disease progression. ...

The diagnosis of autoimmune Hepatitis is best achieved with a combination of clinical and laboratory findings. A number of specific antibodies found in the blood (antinuclear antibody (ANA), smooth muscle antibody (SMA), Liver/kidney microsomal antibody (LKM-1) and anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA)) are of use, as is finding an increased Immunoglobulin G level. However, the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis always requires a liver biopsy. In complex cases a scoring system can be used to help determine if a patient has autoimmune hepatitis, which combines clinical and laboratory features of a given case. This article is in need of attention. ... Schematic of antibody binding to an antigen An antibody is a protein complex used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. ...

Four subtypes are recognised, but the clinical utility of distinguishing subtypes is limited.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency

In severe cases of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD), the accumulated protein in the endoplasmic reticulum causes liver cell damage and inflammation. Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD or Alpha-1) is a genetic disorder caused by reduced levels of alpha 1_antitrypsin in the blood. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... The endoplasmic reticulum or ER (endoplasmic means within the cytoplasm, reticulum means little net) is an organelle found in all eukaryotic cells. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ...

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a type of hepatitis which resembles alcoholic hepatitis on liver biopsy (fat droplets, inflammatory cells, but usually no Mallory's hyalin) but occurs in patients who have no known history of alcohol abuse. NASH is more common in women and the most common cause is obesity or the metabolic syndrome. A related but less serious condition is called "fatty liver" (steatosis hepatis). A liver biopsy for fatty liver shows fat droplets throughout the liver, but no signs of inflammation or Mallory's hyalin. As its name signifies, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is fatty inflammation of the liver when this is not due to excessive alcohol use. ... Obesity is an excess storage of fat and can affect any mammal, such as the mouse on the left. ... Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that affect a large number of people in a clustered fashion. ... Fatty liver or steatosis hepatis is a reversible condition seen in chronic alcoholism and many other conditions, where large vacuoles of lipid accumulate in hepatocytes (the cells of the liver). ...

The diagnosis depends on history, physical exam, blood tests, radiological imaging and sometimes a liver biopsy. The initial evaluation to identify the presence of fatty infiltration of the liver is radiologic imaging including ultrasound, computed tomographic imaging, or magnetic resonance imaging. However, radiologic imaging cannot readily identify inflammation in the liver. Therefore, the differentiation between steatosis and NASH often requires a liver biopsy. It can also be difficult to distinguish NASH from Alcoholic Hepatitis when the patient has a history of alcohol consumption. Sometimes in such cases a trial of abstinence from alcohol along with follow up blood tests and a repeat liver biopsy are required. Blood tests are laboratory tests done on blood to gain an appreciation of disease states and the function of organs. ...

NASH is becoming recognized as the most important cause of liver disease second only to Hepatitis C in numbers of patients going on to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ...

External links

Categories: Gastroenterology | Hepatitis Health science is the discipline of applied science which deals with human and animal health. ... See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that are used to treat patients. ... Gastroenterology or Gastrology might be better described as the field of digestive diseases, which are traditionally separated by anatomic or functional category. ... The esophagus, oe/œsophagus*, or gullet is the muscular tube in vertebrates through which ingested food passes from the mouth area to the stomach. ... In anatomy, the stomach (in ancient Greek στομάχι) is an organ in the alimentary canal used to digest food. ... Halitosis, breath odour, or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant odours exhaled in breathing. ... Nausea (Greek Ναυτεία) is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ... Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD, or GORD when -oesophageal, the BE form, is substituted) is injury to the esophagus that develops from chronic exposure of the esophagus to acid coming up from the stomach (reflux). ... Achalasia or acalasia is a failure of a ring of muscle (as a sphincter) to relax (completely). ... Esophageal cancer is cancer of the esophagus. ... In medicine (gastroenterology), esophageal varices are extreme dilations of sub mucosal veins in the mucosa of the esophagus in diseases featuring portal hypertension, secondary to cirrhosis primarily. ... Peptic ulcer is a non-malignant ulcer of the stomach (called gastric ulcer) or duodenum (called duodenal ulcer). ... Abdominal pain can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. ... In medicine, stomach cancer (also called gastric cancer) can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs. ... Dyspepsia is a constant pain in the stomach. ... The liver is an organ in vertebrates including humans. ... The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ that serves two functions: exocrine - it produces pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes endocrine - it produces several important hormones Anatomy The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ located posterior to the stomach on the posterior abdominal wall. ... The gallbladder (or cholecyst) is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile (or gall) until the body needs it for digestion. ... A bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile. ... Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. ... As its name signifies, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is fatty inflammation of the liver when this is not due to excessive alcohol use. ... Primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune disease of the liver marked by the slow progressive destruction of the small bile ducts within the liver. ... Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an inflammatory disease of the bile duct, which leads to cholestasis (blockage of bile transport to the gut). ... In medicine (gastroenterology and hepatology), Budd-Chiari syndrome is the clinical picture caused by occlusion of the hepatic vein. ... Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, also called hepatoma) is a primary malignancy (cancer) of the liver. ... Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. ... Pancreatic cancer (also called cancer of the pancreas) is represented by the growth of a malignant tumour within the small pancreas organ. ... In medicine, gallstones are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile components. ... Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. ... Diagram showing the small intestine In biology the small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the large intestine (colon). ... Peptic ulcer is a non-malignant ulcer of the stomach (called gastric ulcer) or duodenum (called duodenal ulcer). ... Malabsorption is the state of impaired absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. ... Coeliac disease (also termed non-tropical sprue, celiac disease and gluten intolerance) is an autoimmune disease characterised by chronic inflammation of the proximal portion of the small intestine caused by exposure to certain dietary gluten proteins. ... Lactose intolerance is the name given to the condition (found in the majority of humans) in which lactase, an enzyme needed for proper metabolization of lactose, is not produced in adulthood. ... Fructose malabsorption is a condition in which the fructose carrier in enterocytes is deficient. ... Whipples disease is a rare disease caused by the bacteria Thropheryma whipplei. ... Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system. ... In anatomy of the digestive system, the colon is the part of the intestine from the cecum to the rectum. ... Diarrhea in American English, (spelled diarrhoea elsewhere) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent and watery bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; lit. ... Appendicitis is a condition characterised by inflammation of the appendix. ... Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel, the main part of the large intestine. ... Diverticulosis, otherwise known as diverticular disease, is the condition of having diverticula in the large colon which are outpocketings of the colon through weaknesses in the colon wall. ... In medicine, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and, in some cases, the small intestine. ... Crohns disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract and it can involve any part of it - from the mouth to the anus. ... Diagram of the Human Intestine Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the bowel, that usually affects the distal end of the large intestine and rectum. ... In medicine (gastroenterology), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of functional bowel disorders which are fairly common and make up 20–50% of visits to a specialist. ... Constipation is a condition of the digestive system where a person (or other animal) experiences difficulty in eliminating feces. ... Diagram of the stomach, colon, and rectum Colorectal cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. ... Hirschsprungs disease, or aganglionic megacolon. ... Pseudomembranous colitis is a infection of the colon caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile. ...

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