Question

Pick a gastrointestinal disorder that has affected you , someone you know , describe the disorder ( causes, symptoms, treatment etc.) and its impact both physical and emotional

Answer 1

Typhoid fever: (Causes, Symptoms and Treatment )

Typhoid fever is caused by the Gram‐negative, aerobic rod Salmonella typhi. The disease is transmitted by contaminated food and water and begins with a high fever lasting several days or weeks. A skin rash called rose spots is associated with the disease. Patients are tired, confused, and delirious, and the mortality rate without antibiotic therapy is high. Intestinal bleeding and wall perforation may occur.

Chloramphenicol is used in therapy. The carrier state exists in people who have recovered. These people shed the bacteria in their feces and are a source of infection to other individuals.

Impact on physical health:

1. Gastrointestinal Bleeding:

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a long-term effect of untreated typhoid. It has been reported that symptoms include severe abdominal pain, coffee grounds vomit, black tarry stool, weakness and dizziness when standing up.

Prolonged bleeding can lead to loss of iron, which can cause anemia. Massive bleeding can cause shock and death. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

2. Intestinal Perforation:

Intestinal perforation can occur in the third week if typhoid is left untreated. Perforated intestines occur when holes develop in the wall of the intestines, causing intestinal contents to leak into the abdominal cavity.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness, severe abdominal pain and blood infection. Patients with intestinal perforation should seek immediate medical care in order for doctors to perform surgery to fix the perforated intestines.

3. Infections:

Untreated typhoid fever can cause inflammation of heart muscles, which may lead to heart problems in the long term. Typhoid can also cause an infection in the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, leading to a fatal nervous system disease known as meningitis.

Untreated typhoid may also cause an infection of the kidneys and bladder, leading to kidney failure.

Emotional problems:

Psychiatric Problems:

Untreated typhoid can cause permanent psychiatric problems such as delirium, hallucinations and paranoia over the long term. Delirium is a sudden state of confusion due to physical or mental illness.

Hallucinations are false and distorted perceptions of events. Paranoia is a symptom of a psychotic disorder in which patients become suspicious of others and feel that the world is out to get them.