Parasites are infectious organisms which cannot be classified as bacteria, fungi or viruses. There are several different kinds of parasites which can infect the colon; some of the more common ones are Giardia, Cryptosporidia, amoebas and...
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited, genetic condition common in people of northern European and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. People with cystic fibrosis have progressive lung disease that causes frequent infections and trouble clearing the airways....
Bloating and fatty stool -- stools that are foul-smelling, greasy and usually rather large in volume -- are common digestive symptoms that usually indicate some type of malabsorption. The Merck Manual defines malabsorption as the inadequate...
Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening hereditary condition that causes lung damage and nutritional deficiencies. Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive juices. These fluids should be thin and slippery; a...
Giardiasis, also called a giardia infection, is caused by a parasite that invades the intestinal tract. The giardia intestinalis parasite is spread by drinking contaminated water or from close contact with the feces of an infected person or...
Pancreatic carcinoma is characterized by abnormal and unregulated cell growth within the pancreas. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that approximately 42,470 people in the United States were diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma in 2009....
Diarrhea is a frequent symptom of intestinal infection and inflammatory response. People are typically well aware when they are experiencing diarrhea. There is a more than usual amount of bowel movements with the stool being softer or more liquid...
Chronic diarrhea is defined as diarrhea that lasts for more than two weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Causes include parasites, infections, medications such as antibiotics, hereditary disorders, tumors and...
Crohn's disease is a gastrointestinal condition which is also known as inflammatory bowel disease. If you have Crohn's, your immune system attacks the tissue that lines your intestines, causing inflammation which can result in diarrhea, pain and...
Cholestatic liver disease is a condition that causes an obstruction of bile flow. Liver cells produce bile, which passes through a tubular transport system within the liver to the gallbladder. Bile moves from the gallbladder into the small...
MayoClinic.com states that gastric bypass surgery is the most commonly done weight loss surgery in the United States. Among the many available bariatric, or weight loss, surgery options gastric bypass is generally considered to offer long term and...
Childhood parasites can be bothersome, but in most cases they are fully treatable. Children in school or daycare are at a higher risk for catching such parasites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention names giardia, pinworms and head lice...
If you are overweight, you can improve your health along a number of fronts by losing some of your excess pounds. Not only can weight loss improve your overall energy, it can also help prevent diseases such as type 2 diabetes, arthritis and heart...
Postural drainage, or chest physical therapy, is used in the treatment of people suffering from cystic fibrosis to help them breathe more easily and maintain good health. This form of therapy uses a combination of percussion and gravity to loosen...
Pancreatitis is a condition in which your pancreas, an organ that synthesizes insulin, becomes inflamed. The two types of pancreatitis are acute and chronic. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that more than 200,000...
Asthma is a common medical condition in which the respiratory airways narrow and swell, producing excess secretions and making breathing difficult. Symptoms of asthma often include shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain, audible...
Humans are, by nature, omnivores. This means your body and digestive tract are designed to handle a wide variety of different foods. Changing your diet, in all likelihood, won't significantly affect your gastrointestinal tract, or GI system....
Obesity is one of the largest health concerns affecting Americans. Although most practitioners agree that exercise and dietary changes are the best way to lose weight, there are a number of medications available to help you. Two of those...
Infections of the microscopic Giardia parasites, also known as Giardia duodenalis or Giardia lamblia, usually clear up in two to six weeks on their own. However, repeated infections or infections in people with compromised immune systems can have...
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is usually first suggested by certain symptoms. One common symptom of cancer of the pancreas is jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and of the whites of the eyes, as well as darkening of the urine....
The amount you eat may not have a lot of impact on how much stool you produce. Many disorders cause large, bulky stools even in people who don't eat a lot. The size of your stools has more to do with how well you digest your foods than how much...
Cystic fibrosis, or CF, is an inherited disease, which occurs most commonly in the Caucasian population. According to the Mayo Clinic, CF occurs in about 1 out of every 3000 live births. The disease develops when a baby inherits two copies of a...
Giardiasis is the infection caused by the parasite Giardia. Giardia intestinalis, as its full name connotes, inhabits the small intestines and steals from the nutrients destined for its host. The organism is present in the human body in two forms,...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for many people in the United States. It involves several health conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. High blood pressure, poor blood circulation, chest pain and abnormal heartbeats are...
Three main types of parasites--protozoa, helminths and extoparasites--cause illness and disease in humans. Protozoa, tiny one-celled organisms, live and multiply in the human intestine and bloodstream. Helminths are parasitic worms that reside in...
Giardia infections are a common source of waterborne diseases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Giardiasis describes a disease caused by infection of the microscopic parasite, giardia. Giardia...
Chronic pancreatitis comes with uncomfortable symptoms, including upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, greasy stools and unintentional weight loss. The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is heavy alcohol use. It can also result...
The term rectal prolapse refers to a condition in which the tissue that lines the rectum drops down into, or protrudes through, the opening of the anus. According to the National Institutes of Health, rectal prolapse most commonly occurs in...
Numerous conditions and infectious agents can cause stomach or abdominal aches and pains. According to MedlinePlus, a website published by the National Institutes of Health, most causes of stomach aches and pains are not life-threatening. However,...
