How to examine the small intestine. Methods for examining the small intestine, their advantages and disadvantages

21.10.2023 -

The human digestive tract begins in the mouth and ends in the rectum. That is, it passes through almost the entire body. If you measure its length, it will be more than 3 meters. One of the components of the digestive tract is the small intestine. Digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs in it. Disruption of the small intestine leads to disruption of these functions. As a result, enteritis develops - a disease that is manifested by changes in the nature of stool (diarrhea, constipation) and pain in the abdominal area. How to check for pathology? Diagnosis of diseases of this part of the digestive tract is carried out in various ways. Among them are endoscopic, x-ray and laboratory tests.

Indications for diagnosing the small intestine

When is the small intestine checked? A study of this part of the gastrointestinal tract is carried out in the presence of symptoms of pathology. The most common diseases of the small intestine include inflammatory processes, benign and malignant neoplasms. The following indications for the diagnosis of pathologies are distinguished:

Acute and chronic enteritis. This is an inflammatory disease that can be caused by various pathogens. Among them are E. coli, entero- and rotavirus, staphylococci, etc.
Crohn's disease. This pathology refers to specific inflammatory processes. Crohn's disease can affect all parts of the digestive tract. Most often, destructive changes are observed in the small intestine. It is believed that the disease has an autoimmune mechanism of development and is also inherited.
Benign tumors of the small intestine. These include polyps, fibromas, lipomas, angiomas, etc.
Oncological pathologies of the small intestine. Develop from undifferentiated cells. The causes of intestinal cancer are considered to be the presence of long-term chronic inflammatory processes, benign tumors, poor nutrition and stress.

The reason for diagnosis are complaints such as constant pain in the abdomen (periumbilical area), anemia, and bowel dysfunction.

How to check the small intestine: methods

Given the location of the small intestine, it can be argued that access to it is usually difficult. Therefore, the condition of this organ is assessed in 2 ways. The first (FGDS) involves examining the organ through the oral cavity. This way you can see the initial part of the small intestine. The second diagnostic method is colonoscopy. In this case, visualization is carried out by inserting an endoscope through the anus. Colonoscopy can evaluate the condition of the distal small intestine.

In addition to endoscopic methods, there are other diagnostic methods. How to check the small intestine without colonoscopy and FGDS? The following methods of organ research are distinguished:

Physical examination. It is the first stage in diagnosing diseases of the small intestine. Physical examination means palpation and percussion of the abdominal area.
Laboratory research. Thanks to the tests, it is possible to find out whether there is an inflammatory process, as well as oncological pathologies. Laboratory diagnostic methods include: CBC, stool examination, cytology smear.
X-ray of the abdominal organs with contrast. This method helps to identify the presence of changes in the intestinal walls, shadows from neoplasms.
Biopsy and histological examination. Performed if an oncological process is suspected.

All of the listed diagnostic procedures are of great importance in identifying pathologies of the small intestine. Often it is necessary to perform several research methods.

How to check the small intestine: tests for diseases

After collecting complaints and examining the patient, if a disease of the small intestine is suspected, laboratory diagnostics are carried out. First of all, a general and biochemical blood test is prescribed. CBC allows you to identify the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. In addition, it can be used to find out the nature of the pathogen (bacteria or viruses). With a pronounced acceleration of ESR, cancer should be suspected. Stool analysis - coproscopy - is of great importance for diagnosis. It contains undigested food residues (muscle fibers, fiber, fatty acids).

Endoscopic examination of the small intestine

How to check the small intestine using endoscopic methods? There are 2 diagnostic procedures for this purpose. The first is FGDS. Using this examination, it is possible to visualize the upper gastrointestinal tract. These include the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Thanks to FGDS, it is possible to make a diagnosis: duodenitis, duodenal ulcer, Crohn's disease. All these pathologies develop with inflammation of the initial part of the small intestine. In addition, this endoscopic procedure helps to identify benign and malignant processes within the duodenum.

Diagnosis of the small intestine often includes a colonoscopy. Such an examination is prescribed for stool problems and abdominal pain. With its help, you can visualize not only the thin tissue, but also allows you to assess the condition of the walls and lumen of the organ. Colonoscopy reveals inflammatory changes in the intestines, destructive processes, and neoplasms. In addition, simultaneously with this study, a biopsy of organ tissue can be performed.

Preparing for a colonoscopy procedure

Preparing for a colonoscopy is very important. To conduct a quality examination, the intestines must be completely cleared of feces. Also, visualization may be impaired due to the accumulation of gases in the lumen of the organ. Preparing for a colonoscopy includes the following steps:

Follow the diet 2-3 days before the examination. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that lead to increased gas formation. These include some vegetables (cabbage, beets), apples, white bread and other flour products, and milk porridges.
Purgation. This can be done with the help of medications. The drug for cleansing the intestines is the laxative “Fortrans”. The medication is available in powder form and diluted in 3 liters of water. The resulting solution must be consumed the day before the test and in the morning (before the procedure).

You can also cleanse the intestines with an enema. However, one procedure will not be enough. It is recommended to perform a cleansing enema 3-4 times.

Diagnosis of oncological pathologies of the small intestine

How to check the small intestine for oncology, and also distinguish a benign tumor from cancer? A neoplasm can be suspected based on the patient’s complaints and the results of the listed diagnostic methods. However, it will be possible to make an accurate diagnosis only after special examinations. These include biopsy, cytology and histology analysis. Material can be collected for research using endoscopic diagnostic methods - FGDS (for duodenal tumors) or colonoscopy. Cytological analysis allows you to assess the condition of the cells that make up the neoplasm. The degree of tumor tissue differentiation is determined by histological examination.

How to suspect small intestinal cancer?

Oncological processes in the small intestine are not considered common cancer pathologies. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose such diseases in time. Only with certain symptoms and after a series of studies can small intestinal cancer be suspected. Characteristic signs include: pain in the umbilical ring, mesogastrium. In addition, changes in the shape and consistency of stool and constipation may occur. Less commonly, patients are bothered by nausea and vomiting (if the tumor is localized in the proximal intestine). In most cases, cancer develops against the background of duodenal ulcer, polyposis, and Crohn's pathology.

How to check the small intestine if a tumor is suspected? First of all, the patient needs to undergo a blood and stool test. “Occult blood” may be found in the stool. This sign often indicates an oncological process in the small or large intestine. If blood is detected in the stool, a colonoscopy with tissue biopsy is performed.

Which clinics can test the small intestine?

Where can you check the small intestine for pathology? Diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases is performed in almost all medical institutions. Most studies are performed on an outpatient basis. When the patient is in the hospital, diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine is performed in the hospital. You can have a colonoscopy at any clinic that has suitable endoscopy equipment.

Physical examination of the small intestine

Physical diagnostic methods include interviewing the patient and examination. When you can detect changes such as increased or decreased peristalsis in a certain area, bloating, retraction of the anterior abdominal wall. All these signs indicate a malfunction of the small intestine. However, an accurate diagnosis cannot be made without laboratory and instrumental studies.

X-ray diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine

X-rays of the small intestine are often performed with contrast. For this purpose, a barium suspension is used. It is necessary to cleanse the intestines first (as with colonoscopy). After taking a survey image, the patient must drink a contrast agent. It colors the intestines, thereby improving visualization. Next, a series of x-rays are taken. Thanks to this study, it is possible to identify changes in the contours of the intestinal wall (in Crohn's disease), the presence of neoplasms in the lumen of the organ, and ulcerative defects.

Thanks to the development of modern medicine, checking the condition of the small intestine is not associated with any difficulties. Diagnosis is carried out through instrumental examinations, which are individually selected by a specialist. We should not forget that each study requires special preparation and consideration of the main contraindications.

General information about diagnostic methods

An examination of the small intestine consists of studying the condition of its three components: the ileum, jejunum and duodenum. As you know, they are located between the stomach and intestines. In order to maintain confidence that the diagnosis is correct, it is strongly recommended that you contact a gastroenterologist exclusively. The main types of examination of the small intestine include endoscopy, radiography, fiberoscopy, irrigoscopy and ultrasound.

It is very important to consider that any study requires special preparation. Speaking about some general activities, I would like to draw attention to following a two-week diet. This is a desirable measure, because it is important to free the entire gastrointestinal tract from food as much as possible. It is strongly recommended to use liquid pureed porridges prepared in advance in water. Every day, or rather in the morning and evening, you should not forget about giving enemas.

It is recommended to completely stop drinking 24 hours before the small intestine is to be diagnosed, and six hours before the use of water and other liquids. In general, preparatory activities must be agreed upon individually with a specialist each time. Only in this case will it be possible to talk about the maximum reliability with which the diagnosis is associated.

Radiography - as a method of examining the small intestine

The study is carried out only after consuming 400 mg of barium mixture, a contrast component.

After a few hours (the specific period of time is determined individually each time), it will be possible to take an x-ray. The presented study has some advantages compared to other diagnostic examinations.

In particular, it is thanks to the presented method that it is possible to identify an accurate diagnosis within the framework of dyskinesia, as well as determine the absence or presence of intestinal obstruction and inflammation in the presented area. However, often such methods require additional confirmation, and therefore a gastroenterologist carries out diagnostics with other examinations.

Ultrasound examination

The presented diagnostic examination can rightfully be considered universal, because it is prescribed to everyone if it is necessary to study the area of the small intestine. Ultrasound examination makes it possible to achieve several goals at once, which are very important for determining the characteristics of subsequent treatment. In particular, with the help of ultrasound it is possible to identify foreign inclusions in the area of the small intestine.

In addition, it is precisely this kind of diagnosis that makes it possible to identify the location of inclusions relative to the gastric region, colon and other organs in the peritoneum. There is, however, a certain feature, which is that for people who are overweight, the presented methods are considered ineffective. In this regard, we are talking about introducing other survey methods.

Irrigoscopy and fiberoscopy

The first type of examination, namely irrigoscopy, is used to identify a wide variety of pathological conditions of the duodenum. Next, I would like to draw attention to the following features:

Before diagnosis is made, the patient is given barium directly into the rectal area through an enema. This provides higher information content during irrigoscopy;
fiberoscopy is a method of diagnostic examination that is carried out using a fiberscope;
if there is such a need, specialists may insist on removing a certain amount of internal tissue. This is necessary for carrying out analyzes as part of histological examination.

The advantage of fiberoscopy is that it is not only a diagnostic measure, but also a therapeutic technique.

So, a specialist can use a fiberscope to stop bleeding that has already begun. However, with strong bleeding, this method is no longer effective and there is a need for surgical intervention.

Enteroscopy

Intestinoscopy, or enteroscopy, is a procedure that allows endoscopic examination of the small intestine area. In addition, such diagnostics allows for a biopsy followed by histological and cytological examination of the obtained material. In addition, enteroscopy makes it possible to carry out a variety of restorative procedures, namely stopping bleeding or removing polyps. In addition, we may be talking about installing a probe for eating food or removing foreign objects.

Double-balloon enteroscopy should be considered one of the newest methods in studying the condition of the small intestine. It offers the widest visual overview of the small intestine along its entire length. For the presented diagnostics, it is necessary to use a telescopic endoscope (enteroscope) system and an external tube, which is combined with a balloon system and a special air-type pump. The intervention will require the use of general anesthesia.

Balloon enteroscopy

The presented method of diagnostic examination is used to determine an accurate diagnosis in a number of cases. In particular, if we are talking about bleeding in the area of the small intestine, with its subsequent stopping. In addition, neoplasms in the small intestine are taken into account with the possible implementation of a biopsy.

Balloon enteroscopy is also performed if adenomatosis is suspected, for specialized extraction (excision) of polyps located in the small intestine. Research is no less often used to extract a wide variety of foreign objects. However, given the versatility of the presented diagnostic method, it is strongly recommended to consult with a specialist before implementing it.

Capsule endoscopy

Another study, through which diagnosis is also ensured 100%, is capsule endoscopy. It is a modern method that makes it possible to determine an accurate diagnosis of the pathological condition of the small intestine using a small video camera.

The examination technique is as follows: the patient swallows a sterile disposable video capsule camera (its dimensions are 11 mm by 24 mm).

After this, it, of course, naturally and without pain, passes through the entire area of the intestines and stomach. During this period of time, the camera takes automatic color pictures. The time period required for the passage of the presented diagnostic object through the gastrointestinal tract is nine hours.

As experts note, during the given period of time the camera manages to take more than 65,000 encoded images. They are automatically redirected to a special recording device that was built into the patient’s clothing. After completing the examination cycle, the device is also naturally removed from the human body.

The video information obtained from the examination will be transferred to a computer. The specialist studies and evaluates the information received, after which he makes a final conclusion and speaks about what exactly the treatment should be.

Taking all this into account, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that today there are a variety of methods available for diagnosing the small intestine. They allow not only to identify certain pathological conditions, but also, in some cases, to stop bleeding and provide other therapeutic measures. All this is necessary so that in the future the question of how to check the small intestine does not arise.

Important!

HOW TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF CANCER?

Time limit: 0

Navigation (job numbers only)

0 out of 9 tasks completed

Information

TAKE THE FREE TEST! Thanks to detailed answers to all questions at the end of the test, you can REDUCE the likelihood of disease by several times!

You have already taken the test before. You can't start it again.

Test loading...

You must log in or register in order to begin the test.

You must complete the following tests to start this one:

results

Time is over

1.Can cancer be prevented?
The occurrence of a disease such as cancer depends on many factors. No person can ensure complete safety for himself. But everyone can significantly reduce the chances of developing a malignant tumor.

2.How does smoking affect the development of cancer?
Absolutely, categorically forbid yourself from smoking. Everyone is already tired of this truth. But quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing all types of cancer. Smoking is associated with 30% of deaths from cancer. In Russia, lung tumors kill more people than tumors of all other organs.
Eliminating tobacco from your life is the best prevention. Even if you smoke not a pack a day, but only half a day, the risk of lung cancer is already reduced by 27%, as the American Medical Association found.

3.Does excess weight affect the development of cancer?
Look at the scales more often! Extra pounds will affect more than just your waist. The American Institute for Cancer Research has found that obesity promotes the development of tumors of the esophagus, kidneys and gallbladder. The fact is that adipose tissue not only serves to preserve energy reserves, it also has a secretory function: fat produces proteins that affect the development of a chronic inflammatory process in the body. And oncological diseases appear against the background of inflammation. In Russia, WHO associates 26% of all cancer cases with obesity.

4.Do exercise help reduce the risk of cancer?
Spend at least half an hour a week training. Sport is on the same level as proper nutrition when it comes to cancer prevention. In the United States, a third of all deaths are attributed to the fact that patients did not follow any diet or pay attention to physical exercise. The American Cancer Society recommends exercising 150 minutes a week at a moderate pace or half as much but at a vigorous pace. However, a study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer in 2010 shows that even 30 minutes can reduce the risk of breast cancer (which affects one in eight women worldwide) by 35%.

5.How does alcohol affect cancer cells?
Less alcohol! Alcohol has been blamed for causing tumors of the mouth, larynx, liver, rectum and mammary glands. Ethyl alcohol breaks down in the body to acetaldehyde, which is then converted into acetic acid under the action of enzymes. Acetaldehyde is a strong carcinogen. Alcohol is especially harmful for women, as it stimulates the production of estrogens - hormones that affect the growth of breast tissue. Excess estrogen leads to the formation of breast tumors, which means that every extra sip of alcohol increases the risk of getting sick.

6.Which cabbage helps fight cancer?
Love broccoli. Vegetables not only contribute to a healthy diet, but they also help fight cancer. This is also why recommendations for healthy eating contain the rule: half of the daily diet should be vegetables and fruits. Particularly useful are cruciferous vegetables, which contain glucosinolates - substances that, when processed, acquire anti-cancer properties. These vegetables include cabbage: regular cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.

7. Red meat affects which organ cancer?
The more vegetables you eat, the less red meat you put on your plate. Research has confirmed that people who eat more than 500g of red meat per week have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.

8.Which of the proposed remedies protect against skin cancer?
Stock up on sunscreen! Women aged 18–36 are especially susceptible to melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. In Russia, in just 10 years, the incidence of melanoma has increased by 26%, world statistics show an even greater increase. Both tanning equipment and sun rays are blamed for this. The danger can be minimized with a simple tube of sunscreen. A 2010 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology confirmed that people who regularly apply a special cream have half the incidence of melanoma than those who neglect such cosmetics.
You need to choose a cream with a protection factor of SPF 15, apply it even in winter and even in cloudy weather (the procedure should turn into the same habit as brushing your teeth), and also not expose it to the sun's rays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

9. Do you think stress affects the development of cancer?
Stress itself does not cause cancer, but it weakens the entire body and creates conditions for the development of this disease. Research has shown that constant worry alters the activity of immune cells responsible for triggering the fight-and-flight mechanism. As a result, a large amount of cortisol, monocytes and neutrophils, which are responsible for inflammatory processes, constantly circulate in the blood. And as already mentioned, chronic inflammatory processes can lead to the formation of cancer cells.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! IF THE INFORMATION WAS NECESSARY, YOU CAN LEAVE A FEEDBACK IN THE COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE! WE WILL BE GRATEFUL TO YOU!

With answer
With a viewing mark

Task 1 of 9
Can cancer be prevented?
Task 2 of 9
How does smoking affect the development of cancer?
Task 3 of 9
Does excess weight affect the development of cancer?
Task 4 of 9
Does exercise help reduce the risk of cancer?
Task 5 of 9
How does alcohol affect cancer cells?

What to do if you have bloating? The European standard in diagnosing intestinal dysbiosis - the hydrogen breath test - is now available in LOTUS!

Bloating(flatulence) is a problem of modern society that disrupts the quality of life of people and brings many problems. Self-medication with drugs that reduce bloating (espumisan, sorbents, enzymes) sometimes does not bring results, since the cause of this condition is not clear.

Violation of gas removal

The intestines normally contain about a liter of gas. It is produced by bacteria and is gradually eliminated voluntarily or involuntarily. Bloating occurs when gas production increases or its elimination is impaired.

In some cases, gas accumulates in the intestines not because a lot of it is produced, but because it is not excreted. The act of releasing gases from the intestines is called "flatus". The lack of gas removal often indicates a serious pathology: intestinal obstruction. This indicates the need to consult a surgeon.

Intestinal obstruction can be obstructive and paralytic.

Obturation - blockage of the intestines, gases do not come out due to an obstruction (tumor, bezoar). Paralytic obstruction occurs in the absence of peristalsis, that is, contraction and movement of the intestines.

Bloating: causes

A lot of gas is produced when eating certain foods.

Gas is produced during fermentation. This fermentation is caused by the consumption of kvass, beer, and yeast. Black bread also causes fermentation.
A lot of gases are formed when eating cabbage, legumes (peas, beans), and carbonated drinks.
If a person has lactase deficiency, he does not digest milk sugar well. In this case, when drinking milk, a lot of gases are formed in the intestines.
Overeating and indigestion will also cause flatulence.

Increased gas formation also occurs in pathological conditions.

Bloating: symptoms

When bloated, a person feels heaviness and a feeling of fullness. He may be bothered by hiccups, belching, and heartburn. Severe bloating is accompanied by intestinal colic - cramping pain in the abdomen. Pain occurs when the intestinal loops are overfilled with gases.

1. Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity to exclude diseases of the pancreas, liver, and gall bladder.

2. Take biochemical blood tests,

3. Do a hydrogen breath test for bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO), fructose, lactose, and sorbitol intolerance.

4. If necessary, as prescribed by a doctor, undergo a fibrocolonoscopy to identify intestinal diseases.

The hydrogen breath test is the standard for diagnosing SIBO.

Violation of the microflora of the large and small intestines, colonization of microflora from the large intestine to the upper sections with insufficiency of the bauhinium valve (barrier between the large and small intestines), intolerance to certain substances (fructose, lactulose, etc.) may be the cause of the above complaints. This test will detect these violations.

How the test works:

Exhaled air contains over 2000 different substances, and in addition to the breathing process as such, the lungs perform the function of removing these substances.

Exhaled air often contains gases that are formed during the metabolism of intestinal bacteria. One of them is hydrogen, which can be easily measured using existing breath test equipment. Hydrogen is released only in the process of anaerobic (i.e. in the absence of oxygen) metabolism. Anaerobes are the main bacteria in the intestines that produce hydrogen.

Measuring the concentration of hydrogen in exhaled air allows you to assess the number and level of metabolic activity of anaerobic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as identify deviations from the norm. The time during which the hydrogen concentration increases during a breath test indicates the part of the intestine in which fermentation processes occur.

The hydrogen test is used to indicate the degree of bacterial contamination of the small intestine. This indicator is directly dependent on the concentration of hydrogen in exhaled air on an empty stomach. In patients with intestinal diseases occurring with chronic recurrent diarrhea and bacterial contamination of the small intestine, the concentration of hydrogen in the exhaled air significantly exceeds 15 ppm. With bacterial contamination of the small intestine, the “peak” increase in the concentration of hydrogen in the exhaled air appears much earlier.

Indications for:

irritable bowel syndrome
suspected primary or secondary lactulose intolerance
suspected fructose intolerance
suspected sorbitol intolerance
intolerance to fruits, sweets, honey, baked goods.
intolerance to chewing gum, lollipops, etc.
intolerance to foods labeled “sugar-free”
small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome
exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
cirrhosis of the liver
small intestinal diverticulosis
bloating, flatulence, gas formation
diarrhea
steatorrhea (increased formation of fat in stool)
creativeorrhea (impaired digestion of proteins)
chronic inflammatory bowel disease (often combined with carbohydrate malabsorption)
constipation
identification of “non-H2” producers

How to prepare for the test:

Do not eat for at least 14 hours before the test. During this time, you are allowed to drink only water.
The last meal before the test should be light.
The day before the test, do not eat onions, garlic, cabbage, legumes and pickled vegetables, and do not drink milk/juices.
Three days before the test, avoid taking laxatives.
12 hours before the test you should not smoke or chew chewing gum.
It is recommended to stop taking medications 3 weeks before the test (antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors - omeprazole, pantoprazole, enzymes, NSAIDs)
Patients wearing dentures should not use denture adhesives on the day of the test.
It is recommended to brush your teeth on the day of the test.

The duration of the test is 2 hours with measurement periods of 15-30 minutes.

stomach ache;
constipation;
diarrhea;
blood, pus, or mucus in the stool;
haemorrhoids;
bloating;
a sharp decrease in weight or, conversely, weight gain;
constant belching and heartburn;
bad breath not related to dental health;
the appearance of plaque on the tongue.

Often patients consult a doctor too late, when the discomfort can no longer be tolerated. Some people are afraid that the procedure will be painful, others think that it is difficult to get to a specialist. One way or another, a late visit to the doctor leads to the fact that the disease is already well developed and requires more serious and expensive treatment. In the case of cancerous tumors, any delay may be the last.

Important! Modern diagnostic methods are developed well enough to detect pathology at the earliest stage of development and eliminate it in time.

Laboratory tests help detect pathology, but an accurate diagnosis requires more reliable instrumental diagnostics.

Colonoscopy allows you to obtain more information; with its help you can detect inflammation, polyps, tumors, and also check the condition of the mucous membrane. A colonoscopy is relatively painless, but may be unpleasant for some. In rare cases, the procedure is performed with local anesthesia. A flexible tube with a camera is inserted into the anus, with its help you can not only examine the intestines, but also take tests if necessary. Most often, the examination is performed while lying on the stomach, but if necessary, the doctor may ask the patient to turn on his side or lie on his back.

A more modern examination method is capsule diagnostics. Compared to a colonoscopy, it is completely painless and does not cause any discomfort. The patient just needs to swallow a small capsule with a camera, it passes through the stomach and intestines and is eliminated from the body naturally. While moving through the gastrointestinal tract, the camera takes about 50 thousand pictures, which are transmitted to a special device attached to the patient’s waist. The capsule allows you to examine the small and large intestines, stomach and rectum.

Important! Colonoscopy and capsule diagnostics are performed on an empty stomach. The day before the procedure you should not eat anything.

If necessary, in addition to tests and colonoscopy or capsule diagnostics, an ultrasound, CT scan or x-ray of the intestine may be prescribed.

Increased body temperature, fatigue, sudden weight loss - all this may indicate the presence of the disease.
When palpating the abdomen, there are compactions.
Constant pain in the intestinal area.
The appearance of spots on the skin, changes in color, rash.
Abnormal bowel movements, blood from the anus.
Fluctuations in body weight.
Hunger.
Nervousness, insomnia.

If you have any of the listed symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor. The earlier treatment of the disease is started, the more successful it is.

Which doctor is best to see?

First of all, you need to contact a gastroenterologist. To exclude gynecological causes of abdominal pain, women will also need to visit a gynecologist. If pain and other unpleasant symptoms are localized in the rectal area, you need to be examined by a proctologist. The diagnostic methods of a gastroenterologist and a proctologist are identical:

palpation;
laboratory research;
instrumental examination.

Important! An acute attack of appendicitis requires urgent surgical intervention. In such cases, you must immediately call an ambulance or contact a surgeon yourself, if possible.

One of the new ways to examine the gastrointestinal tract without colonoscopy on video:

The most characteristic symptoms of intestinal diseases are the following:

abdominal pain;
heartburn and abdominal pressure;
nausea and vomiting, accompanied by belching of air;
elevated temperature;
constipation or diarrhea;
chest pain.

All of the above symptoms are the most common, but often diseases of the small intestine can manifest themselves in other factors, so only a specialist can determine this.

Signs of bowel disease

pain in the anus;
obstruction;
bleeding from the anus;
blood in stool;
fecal incontinence;
purulent discharge from the rectum;
tenesmus;
anemia.

Among the most known pathologies of the small intestine are the following:

Inflammatory processes leading to malabsorption;
Crohn's disease, affecting all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. This disease is especially severe in women and children;
Intestinal hemorrhoids (varicose veins near the small intestine);
Enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine). It can be acute or chronic;
Whipple's disease (a rare pathology characterized by various clinical forms);
Intestinal malabsorption;
Diverticulosis of the small intestine;
Dysbacteriosis;
Polyposis;
Giardiasis;
Lymphoma;
Small intestine cancer.

Symptoms and treatment of the small intestine depend on the type of disease. Let's look at some of them. But before this, it is necessary to check the small intestine in order to know which disease the patient has.

Currently, for the diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine, radiography, endoscopy and ultrasound. But only in the process of a comprehensive examination will a gastroenterologist be able to make the correct diagnosis and then, based on it, prescribe effective treatment.

The small intestine consists of three parts: duodenum, ileum and jejunum. They are located between the stomach and large intestine. The doctor listens to the patient’s complaints and, based on this, gives a referral for radiography. But before it is carried out, a person must follow a strict diet for 2 weeks, consume only liquid pureed porridges and soups with water. 36 hours before the x-ray, nutrition is completely stopped and the patient must undergo a cleansing enema. Such activities will completely cleanse the intestines of food.

Immediately before the x-ray, the patient must drink barium liquid and only after three to four hours he will be examined. Since barium is not capable of transmitting X-rays, the procedure can detect abnormalities in the small intestine. Such an examination makes it possible to detect: enteritis, dyskinesia and intestinal obstruction.

The endoscopy procedure also allows you to detect signs of various diseases and various inflammatory processes of the small intestine. Using an endoscope, a special video capsule is inserted into the intestine, which will transmit to a video monitor everything that is happening on the intestinal mucous membranes. This procedure is quite informative and effective, but, unfortunately, it is not carried out in all hospitals due to the lack of the necessary modern medical equipment.

Using an ultrasound, the doctor can see the location of all internal organs and their foreign bodies (if any). But this method does not always give 100% results, especially if a person is overweight.

Irrigoscopy involves the administration of a radiocontrast substance using an enema., which will help show all abnormalities in the small intestine. It is usually prescribed for the diagnosis of the duodenum.

During the fiberoscopy procedure, a specialist takes a piece of material for histology. Such an examination is prescribed only in extreme cases, if there is a suspicion of cancer.

After a thorough and complete examination, the doctor will identify the disease, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Treatment of giardiasis of the small intestine

Usually a person does not even know that he has Giardia until he has his stool analyzed for Giardia cysts.

Treatment of this disease occurs in three stages:

Worms in the small intestine

Signs:

stomach ache;
diarrhea;
vomit;
anal itching;
constipation.

Also, in some advanced cases, a person develops severe skin rashes and bronchial asthma.

Drug treatment consists of taking various anthelmintic drugs. The choice of drugs depends on the specific type of worms that have been identified in the patient. These may be medications such as Decaris, Pirantel and others. Treatment is carried out at home.

Enteritis and its symptoms

Chronic enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine, accompanied by disturbances in its functions. A person feels acute pain in the epigastrium, a feeling of heaviness after eating, and painful sensations in the epigastric region. The causative agents are:

salmonella;
dysentery bacillus;
Yersinia;
rotaviruses;
worms, etc..

At the first signs of the disease, you need to take enterosorbent Enterodes, which will cleanse the body. You can also be treated with folk remedies: infusion of cumin, decoctions of black currant, oak bark, bird cherry. In this case, it is necessary to follow a diet.

Diverticulosis and its treatment

Diverticulitis is the presence of a diverticulum, which is a sac-like cavity formation that communicates with the small intestine through an opening.

There are several types of localization of diverticulitis in the small intestine:

Diverticulum 12 – duodenum;
Meckel's diverticulum localized in the upper ileum;

With diverticulosis, bloating, diarrhea, bad breath, and pain in the abdominal area are observed.

To diagnose this disease, EGD and capsule videoscopy are used. X-rays of the small intestine, CRT and angiography are also done.

For diverticulosis, diets No. 4 and No. 3, symptomatic therapy and probiotics are prescribed. All appointments are made by a specialist gastroenterologist based on the obtained tests and research data.

Small bowel cancer

Small intestine cancer signs and symptoms can only be detected with a thorough examination. But, unfortunately, in many cases it is detected only in late stages (3 or 4), when surgical intervention is no longer effective. The reason for this is the complexity of instrumental examination of the small intestinal mucosa, as well as the absence of symptoms, which leads to late referral to specialists.

That is why the prognosis for small intestine cancer may not be encouraging. In order to identify a tumor in the early stages and eliminate oncology in a timely manner, it is necessary to conduct a number of studies.

Also today, scientists have found a way to detect small intestinal cancer at earlier stages and this is a tumor marker. Tumor markers are specific substances formed as a result of the activity of active cancer cells. They can be detected in the blood or urine of a person with suspected cancer and therapy can be started on time.

There are two types of tumor markers:

highly specific, which appear in a specific type of tumor;
appear in oncological diseases of various localizations.

Thanks to modern diagnostic research methods, it is possible to detect an increase in markers even with small tumors at stage 1 of the disease.

Tumor markers allow:

determine the location of the tumor with a high percentage level;
evaluate the effectiveness of treatment;
anticipate the possible occurrence of relapses;
identify individuals who are at risk.