Bowel virus

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the small intestine. Autoimmune conditions cause the immune system to attack the body. In celiac disease, the body launches this attack when a person ingests gluten, which is a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley. Ingesting gluten triggers an immune response that attacks the villi in the small intestine. The villi help transport nutrients from food into the bloodstream.

Continual damage to the villi can lead to malnutrition, a variety of digestive symptoms , skin rashes, and many other nondigestive symptoms, including irritability and bone loss.

Over time, celiac disease can even start to affect organ systems outside of the GI tract, such as the reproductive and nervous systems.

According to the National Institutes of Health NIH , the inflammation caused by celiac disease may increase the risk of small intestine or esophageal cancer. Diverticulosis causes inflammation in the colon, which results in the formation of small sacs in the walls of the colon.

Although diverticulosis can cause symptoms similar to those of other bowel disorders, most people with diverticulosis do not experience symptoms. However, people may notice blood in their stools if one of the sacs becomes inflamed and swollen. If one of these bursts, it can cause severe pain and may lead to sepsis. People with diverticulosis may develop an infection or inflammation in one or more sacs, resulting in a condition called diverticulitis.

Intestinal obstructions occur when a blockage forms in the intestines, preventing the normal passage of stools. Learn more about intestinal obstruction here. It is possible to experience digestive symptoms without having a specific bowel disorder. The sections below describe two other possible causes of bowel-related symptoms. A hernia develops when there is a weakness in the abdominal wall. Sections of the intestines, as well as abdominal fat inside the abdominal wall, can push through this weakness when people strain to pass a stool or lift something heavy.

Loops of intestine can sometimes get stuck, which can cause pain. If this cuts the blood supply off, it may also lead to other, more serious consequences. These results introduce a new twist to the complicated understanding of IBD.

The exact role gut viruses may play in this disease—or in any other diseases and conditions in which gut bacteria have been found to play a role, such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic diseases, and cancer—remains to be determined. Nonetheless, the discovery of this link between gut viruses and IBD could open the door to designing better treatments or preventative measures in the future.

To date, epidemiological studies have not fully described the role of enteric viruses in inflammatory flare-ups, especially that of human noroviruses and rotaviruses, which are the main causative agents of viral gastroenteritis. Genome-wide association studies have demonstrated the association between IBD, polymorphisms of the FUT2 and FUT3 genes which drive the synthesis of histo-blood group antigens , and ligands for norovirus and rotavirus in the intestine.

Thorough washing of hands with soap and running water are vital to prevent spread. Read more on NSW Health website. Noroviruses are a group of viruses that can cause gastroenteritis inflammation of the stomach and intestines with diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting. Read more on Queensland Health website. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection of the bowel caused by one of a number of viruses. Diagnosis is based on clinical examination. Read more on SA Health website.

Read more on NT Health website. Diarrhoea is when more than three loose, watery stools are passed within one day. The stools passed by someone experiencing diarrhoea are between Type 5 and Type 7 on the Bristol Stool Chart.

Diarrhoea may be either acute, lasting for up to two weeks, or chronic, lasting for over four weeks. Read more on Ausmed Education website. Gastroenteritis is an infection and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is a common illness with a variety of causes including viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, chemicals and drugs.

There are many kinds of gastroenteritis, most of them contagious. Dyspepsia indigestion is a common symptom characterised by discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen. It typically occurs after eating or drinking. Symptoms may include early satiation, uncomfortable fullness, bloating, nausea, vomiting, belching, flatulence, heartburn, regurgitation and diarrhoea. Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting genetic condition wherein abnormally thick and sticky mucus is produced, causing complications that predominantly affect the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems.