What could be wrong with me?

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can cause a wide variety of complaints and symptoms, none of which are really disease-specific. Assessing symptoms and complaints is a medical task, but knowing them can help to detect a disease early.

Symptoms/complaints of diseases of certain organs:
with Symptons/complaints of possible oesophagus illnesses symptoms/complaints: Stomach pain, heartburn, chest pain, dry cough, hoarseness, tooth decay, halitosis, dyspnoea, asthma attack, earache, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sore throat, intense salivation, sour taste in mouth, white plaque on tongue, difficulty swallowing, bite blockage, regurgitation of undigested food, painful swallowing, recurrent pneumonia.

with diseases of the stomach and horseshoe casing Symptoms/complaints: nausea, vomiting, nausea, stabbing/sharp/dull/pressure/cramping stomach pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, loss of flesh, feeling full, bloating, feeling full early, acid reflux, stomach hunger pain, stomach pain after meals, fear of eating, vomiting blood, coffee grounds vomiting, diarrhoea, black stools (pitchy stools).

Related Endomedix examinations: Gastroenterology consultation, Gastroscopy with or without anaesthesia

Vfor gastroenteritis typical symptoms/complaints: weight loss, diarrhoea, watery diarrhoea, fatty stools, foul stools, loose/clear stools, bloating, abdominal pain (dull, constant, recurrent, cramping), fatigue, iron deficiency (paleness, anaemia, rapid pulse, drowsiness), hair loss, nail changes, muscle spasms, early osteoporosis, recurrent miscarriages, fatty liver, stunted growth in children, fertility problems, skin disorders, mobility problems, limb pain, muscle weakness due to fatigue, diabetes, heart failure, swelling of the feet, dehydration, fever, joint pain, skin pigmentation, bloody stools, hiccups.

with diseases of the colon and rectum symptoms/complaints: bloody stools, baggy stools, frequent defecation, diarrhoea, crampy abdominal pain, fever, fever, rapid heartbeat, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal wall/rectum/vaginal fistulae, mucousy sores, weakness, lethargy, painful/red lumps on the skin, painful ulcers on the skin, eye pain, conjunctivitis, joint pain, tightness, pain on defecation, diarrhoea after eating, hiccups, lack of wind, change in bowel movements (alternating diarrhoea and constipation).

Related Endomedix examinations: Gastroenterology consultation, Colonoscopy with or without anaesthesia

For gallbladder and biliary tract diseases typical symptoms: crampy pain under the right rib cage, abdominal pain radiating to the scapula, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea, fever, fever, bloating, light stools, fatty stools, feeling full, itching of the skin.

For liver diseases symptoms and complaints: Jaundice, jaundice of the eyes, pain in the liver, fatigue, itching of the skin, drowsiness, slurred speech, confusion, bleeding, haemophilia, fever, fever, bloating, abdominal pain, appearance of abdominal fluid, increase in abdominal volume, frequent flatulence, joint pain, musculoskeletal complaints, muscle pain, bone pain, pain in the limbs, menstrual disorders, absence of menstruation, impotence, vomiting of blood, bloody stools, black stools, weight loss, swelling of legs, rapid heartbeat, taste disturbance, sweet smell, erythema of skin, redness of skin on soles and palms, red/light tongue, thin/vulnerable skin, white fingernails, yellowish deposits in the skin around the eyes, breast growth in men, thinning hair, abdominal wall varicose veins, new onset of abdominal/abdominal hernias.

with diseases of the pancreas typical symptoms/complaints: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhoea, fatty/stinky stools, fever, fever, diabetes, purplish discolouration of the abdominal wall or lower back, bloody urine, painful lumps on the skin, jaundice, bloody stools, bloody vomit, sweating, confusion, obesity, dehydration, weight loss, weakness, redness of the face, buttocks, thighs, red tongue, inflammation of the lips, fingernail bruising, deep vein thrombosis, anaemia.

The most common symptom of abdominal disease is abdominal pain.
The nature, intensity, duration and accompanying symptoms of abdominal pain can also indicate diseases of certain organs/organ systems.
The nature and location of the abdominal pain may indicate the presence of a diseased organ.

The visceral pain (caused by tension in a hollow organ) tends to be more towards the midline of the abdomen, less concentrated in one place. Pain in the small intestine is above or around the navel, spasmodic in nature. Pain in the large intestine is more in the lower abdomen. Diseases of the biliary tract or obstruction of the urinary tract are sometimes almost unbearable, spasmodic in character.

The so-called somatic pain caused by inflammation of the peritoneum is usually sharper, pointing towards the affected area, and increases with movement. Examples include right lower abdominal pain caused by inflammation of the worm, right lower rib-arch pain caused by straining of the liver, and abdominal pain caused by straining of the kidneys. The direction of discharge of this type of pain may also be characteristic. For example, pain may radiate to the right shoulder blade in biliary diseases, to the middle of the back in pancreatic diseases, to the lower back or groin in kidney and urinary tract pain.
Another important feature of abdominal pain may be the presence of factors that trigger or relieve the pain. Eating-related abdominal pain may be more likely to be related to a disease of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas or bile ducts.

Pain on defecation is typical of diseases of the colon and rectum, while pain on urination may indicate diseases of the genitourinary system and rectum. Pain influenced by changes in posture may be associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux, pancreatic diseases, while pain associated with breathing may be associated with liver and biliary tract diseases. Pain associated with the menstrual cycle may indicate diseases of the uterus and ovaries, and pain on physical exertion may indicate circulatory disorders of the intestines. Abdominal pain after eating certain foods may be associated with gastrointestinal motility disorders, food allergies, enzyme deficiencies, certain metabolic disorders, while pain associated with psychological stress or anxiety may be associated with intestinal motility disorders, digestive disorders or sensitive bowel syndrome.

Other symptoms besides pain may also help to clarify the origin of the pain. Fever, flushing or chills may indicate infections or inflammatory diseases. Weight loss may be due to tumours or inflammatory diseases, malabsorption or circulatory problems in the intestines. Nausea/vomiting/vomiting may indicate intestinal obstruction, infection, inflammatory or metabolic diseases. Difficulty or pain in swallowing may occur in oesophageal diseases, early fullness in gastric diseases, vomiting of blood in oesophageal, gastric, duodenal and liver diseases. Constipation may occur in diseases of the large intestine and rectum, jaundice in diseases of the liver and biliary tract, diarrhoea in inflammatory bowel diseases, infections, malabsorption in tumour diseases or circulatory disorders of the intestinal tract. Purulent stools (black stools) in gastrointestinal diseases, while distant (skin, eye, joint) symptoms/complaints (painful, reddish nodules on the skin, non-healing skin ulcers, photosensitivity, eye pain, red eye, joint pain, swelling) may be associated with inflammatory bowel diseases or certain bacterial or viral infections.