Gastroenteritis

A self-limiting disorder, gastroenteritis is characterized by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and acute or chronic abdominal cramping. Also called intestinal flu, traveler's diarrhea, viral enteritis, or food poisoning, it occurs in persons of all ages and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in underdeveloped nations. In the United States, gastroenteritis ranks second to the common old as a leading cause of lost work time and fifth as the leading cause of death among young children. It also can be life-threatening in elderly or debilitated people. Gastroenteritis has many possible causes: Bacteria (responsible for acute food poisoning), Amebae, Parasites, Viruses (may be responsible for traveler's diarrhea), Ingestion of toxins, Drug reactions, Food allergens. The bowel reacts to any of these entero-toxins with hypermotility, producing severe diarrhea and secondary depletion of intracellular fluid. Chronic gastroenteritis is usually the result of another GI disorder, such as ulcerative colitis.

Clinical manifestations vary depending on the pathologic organism and on the level of GI tract involved. However, gastroenteritis in adults is usually an acute, self-limiting, nonfatal disease producing diarrhea, abdominal discomfort (ranging from cramping to pain), nausea, and vomiting. Other possible signs and symptoms include fever, malaise. In children, the elderly, and the debilitated, gastroenteritis produces the same symptoms, but these patients' intolerance to electrolyte and fluid losses leads to a higher mortality.

Ex.11. Read the text “Gastric carcinoma”. Answer the questions.

1. What is gastric carcinoma?

2. Who suffers gastric carcinoma more often?

3. What are the causes of the disease?

4. What factors are considered to be predisposing?

5. How do dietary factors influence the disease?

6. What organs and systems does gastric carcinoma spread to?

7. How is the rate of gastric carcinoma decrease in the USA?

8. What are the early signs of this pathology?

9. Is gastric carcinoma a curable disease?

Gastric Carcinoma

Gastric carcinoma is common throughout the world. Incidence is higher in males over 40. The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis; however, the overall 5-year survival rate is approximately 19%.

The cause of gastric carcinoma is unknown. It is commonly associated with gastritis, with gastric atrophy. Predisposing factors include environmental influences, such as smoking and high alcohol intake. Genetic factors have also been implicated because this disease occurs more commonly among people with type A blood than among those with type O; similarly it is more common in people with a family history of such carcinoma. Dietary factors also seem related, including types of food preparation, physical properties of some foods, and certain methods of food preservation (especially smoking, pickling, or salting). There is a strong correlation between infection with Helicobacter pylori and distal gastric cancer.

Gastric carcinoma infiltrates rapidly to regional lymph nodes, omentum, liver, and lungs by the following routes: walls of the stomach, duodenum, and esophagus; lymphatic system; adjacent organs; bloodstream; and peritoneal cavity.

The decrease in gastric carcinoma in the United States has been attributed, without proof, to the balanced American diet and to refrigeration, which reduces nitrate-producing bacteria in food.

Early clues to gastric carcinoma are chronic dyspepsia and epigastric discomfort, followed in later stages by weight loss, anorexia, feeling of fullness after eating, anemia, and fatigue. If the carcinoma is in the cardiac part, the first sign or symptom may be dysphagia and, later, vomiting (commonly coffee-ground vomitus). Affected patients may also have blood in their stools.

Which statements are true? Render the text using the true statements.

1. Incidence of gastric carcinoma is higher in young men.

2. The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease.

3. This disease occurs more commonly among people with type B blood.

4. Physical properties of some foods and their preparation are also associated with gastric carcinoma.

5. The other organs of the digestive tract are not involved into pathologic process.

6. The early signs of gastric carcinoma are chronic dyspepsia and epigastric discomfort.

Ex.12. Read the text “Carcinoma of the stomach”. Complete the sentences using the information of it.

1. Carcinoma of the stomach occupies …

2. Its highest sickness rate is …

3. It affects … more often than …

4…. people suffer more frequently than …

5. Pathogenesis of carcinoma is connected with …

6. … food has the properties of carcinogens.