Introduction
Pain that occurs in the intestinal area manifests itself in different ways depending on its cause. The exact localization as well as the quality of the pain can give an indication of its cause. Some possible causes of intestinal complaints are listed below.
An allergy to certain foods or food components can lead to an intolerance reaction of the intestine, which often manifests itself as abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. An intolerance to milk protein (lactose), fruit sugar (fructose) and gluten, a component in certain types of cereals (barley, rye, wheat, oats), is particularly common. The gluten intolerance is also called coeliac disease or celiac disease.
This leads to an inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, which ultimately leads to a regression of the intestinal villi. As a result, the digestion as a whole is impaired. Celiac disease is often discovered in childhood, as the affected children often suffer from failure to thrive due to the disturbed absorption of nutrients. In addition, they often have no appetite and suffer from diarrhea, fatty stools and vomiting.
Irritable bowel syndrome
In patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, no other cause for their complaints can be found. Those affected complain of recurring abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, nausea and flatulence. Irritable bowel syndrome is often triggered by stress; many sufferers suffer from psychological problems.
Before a diagnosis can be made, many examinations have to be carried out (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, biopsies, etc.) to rule out all other causes of the symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome is therefore considered a so-called exclusion diagnosis. In general, the disease is not associated with a reduced life expectancy, as there is no serious cause for it, but the quality of life of those affected is often severely restricted. The therapy is tried out in various ways, for example using antispasmodic drugs, peppermint oil and a diet rich in fiber.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is an inflammation of small sacs of the intestinal wall. These bulges (diverticula) are mainly found in older people (approx. 65% of people over 85 years of age) and are caused by weakened connective tissue in the intestinal wall.
Almost always the sigmoid colon is affected, i.e. the large intestine section located in the left lower abdomen. Faeces can be deposited in the diverticula. This can press on the mucous membrane and secondarily lead to an inflammation, which typically manifests itself as pain and pressure in the lower abdomen, sometimes also fever, nausea, vomiting and digestive problems.
In addition, the excrement stones can lead to a reduction in blood flow to the intestinal wall, which can cause the tissue to die. This can have far-reaching consequences up to life-threatening conditions. In the presence of diverticulitis, the doctor can often palpate a hard roller in the left lower abdomen.
The disease can also cause problems with urination or a relocation of the bowel (ileus/subileus). Diverticulitis is diagnosed by ultrasound or computer tomography. Various antibiotics are usually used for therapy. If the diverticulitis occurs repeatedly in the same part of the intestine, it is recommended to resect this part of the intestine if there is no inflammation at the time. This alone can then cure and prevent the recurrent disease.
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