The small intestine refers to the longest part present in your digestive system. Its length is twenty feet. It works to connect the area of your stomach to the large intestine. The small intestine has many folds in order to fit in the area of your abdomen.
It performs functions to digest the foods you consume. It has three parts that are jejunum, ileum, and duodenum. Problems associated with the small intestine are celiac disease, infections, ulcers, bleeding, intestinal cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Moreover, it is associated with intestinal obstruction too. Doctors firstly identify the cause of this disease to plan better treatment for the patients. If you are experiencing a continuous change in the area of your bowel, consult a doctor.
Tell the symptoms to your doctor if you think you are experiencing the symptoms of small intestine diseases. These diseases usually are not dangerous but they can prove life-threatening after complications.
Causes
Doctors do not know the exact cause of small intestine disease. Previously, some researchers suspected that diet and stress play a major role in causing the diseases of the small intestine. But doctors do not know whether these factors can cause diseases of the small intestine or not.
It is sure that stress and diet interfere with the health of your small intestine but disease-causing agents are still not known. Malfunction of the immune system is a possible cause of the diseases of the small intestine.
Risk Factors
There are certain risk factors that can enhance the vulnerability to get small intestine diseases. These risk factors are age, family history, ethnicity or race, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and cigarette smoking.
Treatment
The aim of the treatment of small intestine diseases is to decrease the inflammation that works to trigger certain symptoms. It can lead to relief from symptoms in many cases. Moreover, successful treatment helps to reduce the risks of complications.
Usually, the treatment of small intestine diseases involves drug therapy or doctors recommend surgery in severe cases. It is important to catch the disease at the early stages in order to avoid getting complications later on. A complicated disease is tough to recover.
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
The first step in the treatment of diseases of the small intestine is the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs include balsalazide and mesalamine etc. Medications depend on the colon area that is affected.
Immune System Suppressors
These drugs work in many ways to suppress the responses of the immune system that work to release certain chemicals in the body that cause inflammation. If these chemicals are released in the body, they start damaging your digestive tract lining.
Antibiotics
In addition to other medications, doctors suggest antibiotics if the infection is associated with the small intestine disease. For example, an individual has to use antibiotics in case of perianal Chron’s disease. Doctors can frequently prescribe metronidazole and ciprofloxacin.
Other Supplements And Medications
Some medicines help to decrease symptoms in order to control inflammation. Before using any over-the-counter medicine, take advice from your doctor. Your doctor may recommend supplements, anti-diarrheal medications, and pain relievers.
Prescription depends on the severity of symptoms. Doctors give you nutritional and vitamins supplements in case you are not absorbing nutrients in enough amounts.
Surgery
If drug therapy, lifestyle and diet changes, and certain other treatments fail to provide you relief, your doctor recommends surgery in order to deal with small intestine diseases.
Surgery To Deal With Ulcerative Colitis
Surgery involves the removal of the whole rectum and colon and the internal pouch production that is attached to the anus. It allows the movements of the bowel without a bag. The pouch is not possible in some cases.
In this case, the doctor tries to create an opening in the area of your abdomen. This opening is permanent. Stool passed through this opening for collection in a bag.
Surgery To Deal With Crohn’s Disease
People with Crohn’s disease need at least one surgery throughout their lifespan. But surgery cannot completely cure this disease. The surgeon works to remove the damaged area of the digestive tract during surgery. He then reconnects certain healthy sections to it.
Early treatment saves you from getting many complications. Tell your doctor about each symptom of small intestine disease you have to help him diagnose the disease. In this way, your doctor plans the right treatment for you.