Health Care

Lactose intolerance is the body 's inability to digest a sugar called  lactose predominantly found in milk and other dairy products. This inability is a result of the body 's failure to produce enough of the enzyme  lactase . Lactose intolerance is a fairly common disorder. An estimated thirty to fifty million Americans have some degree of lactose intolerance. The severity of lactose intolerance varies among individuals. Some people can ingest small amounts of milk and cheese without exhibiting symptoms. Others may ingest certain products containing lactose (such as ice cream) without problems while other lactose-containing foods generate extreme discomfort. What Does Lactase Do? Lactase is an enzyme produced by the small intestine to break down lactose (a complex sugar). If the body is able to produce enough lactase, the lactose is broken down into simple sugars,  glucose  and  galactose , which are then absorbed into the bloodstream. Various cells in the body then u

Malabsorption is the inadequate absorption of nutrients. It is often accompanied by a variety of conditions including diarrhea, muscle wasting and, in children, failure to thrive. Malabsorption can be caused by a wide spectrum of diseases. Bassen-Kornzweig Syndrome Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome, also known as  apolipoprotein B deficiency , is an inherited disease in which the intestine is unable to effectively absorb fats. Without the ability to absorb fats, other parts of the body remain underdeveloped. The disease, primarily seen in males, is caused by mutations in one of two genes:  apolipoprotein B  or  microsomal triglyceride transfer protein . Without adequate dietary fats, systems in the body, especially the nervous and muscular systems, are not able to develop normally. The symptoms of Bassen-Kornweig syndrome make this easily apparent. Symptoms include: failure to thrive foul smelling stools with high fat content poor muscle coordination muscle weakness slurred sp

An Overview of Whipple's Disease Whipple 's disease is a very rare, infectious disease that causes malabsorption, an inadequate absorption of nutrients. The disease can affect any part of the body, but it occurs primarily in the small intestine. Causes of Whipple's Disease Whipple 's disease is caused by a bacterial infection of the small intestine; however, if given enough time and left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. The bacterium responsible for the infection is  Tropheryma whippelii . Who's At Risk? The bacteria can infect anyone, but most cases of Whipple 's disease occur in Caucasian males between thirty and sixty years old. What Exactly Happens? Once the bacteria,  Tropheryma whippelii , enters the body, lesions begin to appear in the small intestine. The wall tissue thickens, and the villi, which are responsible for aiding in the absorption process, are also damaged. This reduces the surface area of the small intestin

Occurring in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, tropical sprue is a digestive disorder where nutrients - folic acid and vitamin B12 in particular  - are not properly absorbed by the body. Tropical Sprue Occurs Only in the Tropics Tropical sprue really does occur only in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Most cases occur within 30 degrees north and south of the equator. The disease occurs more frequently in certain countries, including: Cuba Dominican Republic Haiti India Puerto Rico Southeast Asia. Oddly enough, other countries within the tropical and subtropical regionsnamely the Bahamas, Jamaica, and countries on the African continentreport very few cases of tropical sprue. People Affected by Tropical Sprue Tropical sprue is not limited to natives of the tropics and subtropics or visitors. Tropical sprue can affect anyone, although short-term travelers have a smaller risk of acquiring the disease. Most travelers affected by tropical spru

Anemia  is a blood disorder in which the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin is lower than normal. With fewer red blood cells or hemoglobin, insufficient oxygen is delivered to the body 's cells. Pernicious anemia  is a type of anemia caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12. In pernicious anemia, the lack of vitamin B12 is due to the body 's inability to produce enough  intrinsic factor , a protein necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12. Pernicious anemia is a type of  megaloblastic anemia . Megaloblastic anemia is defined as, "a blood disorder characterized by anemia, with red blood cells that are larger than normal, usually resulting from a deficiency of folic acid or of vitamin B12 .  " (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Pernicious anemia by any other name . . . Pernicious anemia is known by a number of other names, including: macrocytic achylic anemia congenital pernicious anemia juvenile pernicious anemia vitamin B12 deficienc

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the body's exocrine glands, including the various mucus and sweat glands found throughout the body. Since cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease, most people with the disease are usually diagnosed by their first birthday. The most common problems due to cystic fibrosis are related to the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs, the mucus produced by the various exocrine glands is abnormally thick, creating obstructions in the breathing passageways and, eventually, damage to the lungs. Furthermore, the thick mucus creates an ideal breeding ground for various bacteria and other organisms, which results in frequent lung infections, damage to the lungs and, ultimately, respiratory failure. Cystic fibrosis also affects the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing various enzymes to aid in digestion, but in cystic fibrosis the pancreas is unable to excrete sufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes to help digest foo

An anal fissure is a rectal tear: a tear in the anal canal that causes rectal pain and rectal bleeding. Anal fissure can occur at any age, but are most common in infants: Up to eighty percent of babies develop an anal fissure before their first birthday. Causes of Anal Fissure A rectal tear is usually caused by constipation. Bowel movements involving hard, large stools damage the anal canal, causing a longitudinal rectal tear. An anal fissure runs along the length of the anal canal. Severe diarrhea or anal canal inflammation can also cause anal fissure: Both conditions irritate and dry the anal canal, increasing the risk of a rectal tear. In elderly individuals, reduced blood flow to the rectal area is one of the causes of anal fissure. Physical trauma and childbirth can also cause rectal tears. Abuse of laxatives is associated with a high risk of anal fissure. While anal intercourse is one of the least common causes of anal fissure, it can also result in a rectal tear. A

Anorectal problems range from mild cases of hemorrhoids to serious conditions such as fecal incontinence and inflammation of the rectum. People are often embarrassed to discuss anorectal problems with their health professional. As anorectal problems can be serious, overcoming this embarrassment can be important. The Anus and Rectum The anus is located at the end of the digestive system, and is approximately an inch and a half in length. The portion of the digestive system terminating in the anus is called the rectum. Stool is stored in the rectum before being voided through the anus. To keep stool stored until voided from the rectum, the anus includes the anal sphincter, a ring of muscle which, when tightened, seals the anus. Anorectal Problems Some anorectal problems are well known, although popular thought about anorectal problems such as hemorrhoids is often clouded with myths and inaccuracies. Anorectal problems can cause worrisome symptoms, such as rectal pain and bleedi

Gastroenteritis is a generic term for inflammation of the stomach and the large and small intestine. Gastroenteritis is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps and vomiting. What Causes Gastroenteritis? The three main causes of gastroenteritis are viral infections, the consumption of bacteria-contaminated food or water and side effects of certain medications or other medical conditions. Gastroenteritis Symptoms Symptoms of gastroenteritis include: diarrhea : the main symptom and common to all types of gastroenteritis abdominal cramps : often severe and stabbing abdominal pain dehydration : severe dehydration in infants under the age of one may require hospitalization vomiting : often accompanied by nausea low-grade fever : usually only applies to viral gastroenteritis muscle spasms : pain ranges in severity from mild muscle ache to sharper stomach pains loss of appetite : sometimes combined with nausea. What is the Treatment for Gastroenteritis? As the sympto