Bowel (Intestinal) Obstruction Topic Guide

Abdominal pain in adults can range from a mild stomach ache to severe pain. Examples of causes of abdominal pain in adults include appendicitis, gallbladder disease, gastric ulcers, pancreatitis, heart attack, kidney stones, diverticulitis, shingles, spider bites, and more. Information about when to seek medical care for abdominal pain is also provided.

Kidney failure, or the ability of the kidneys to filter water and waste, is caused by prerenal, postrenal, or renal problems with the kidney(s). Symptoms of kidney failure include decreased urine production, confusion, fatigue, lethargy, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, problems concentrating, edema, and a metallic taste in the mouth. Treatment for kidney failure depends upon the cause.

Colitis is an inflammation of the colon. There are many cause of colitis, infectious colitis (bacterial or viral), ischemic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), microscopic colitis (lymphocytic and collagenous), and chemical colitis. Symptoms of colitis are generally diarrhea (may be bloody) and abdominal pain and/or cramping. Treatment of colitis depends upon the cause.

The human colon is a muscular, tube-shaped organ measuring about 4 feet long. It extends from the end of your small bowel to your anus. Most colon cancers start as adenomatous polyps that turn into adenocarcinomas. Colon cancer (bowel cancer) is typically diagnosed through a colonoscopy or other type of endoscopic procedures. Treatment methods include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is cancer that originates from the color or rectum, and is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in the US. Ulcerative colitis or UC is not cancer, but is a disease that causes inflammation, irritation, swelling, and sores on the inner lining of the colon. Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease. Colon cancer and ulcerative colitis have similar signs and symptoms, for example, abdominal/cramping and/or pain, fatigue, anemia due to blood loss, rectal bleeding, frequent loose bowel movements, and fatigue. Ulcerative colitis is a risk factor for getting colon cancer, however, it does not cause cancer. Colon cancer can spread to other organs and areas of the body (metastasize) while ulcerative colitis only occurs in the large intestine. Treatment, cure, and survival rates for colon cancer depends upon the type of cancer, stage, and health of the individual. Ulcerative colitis cannot be cured; however, symptoms and recurrence of the disease can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes.

Colon polyps and diverticulitis are not the same thing. Diverticulitis occurs when a diverticulum ruptures and becomes infected, and colon polyps are growths on the inner lining of the colon. Diverticulitis is not caused by colon polyps; however, if you have diverticulitis you may be at higher risk of getting colon cancer. Moreover, approximately 1% of colon polyps may turn into cancer. There are differences between the symptoms and signs of colon polyps vs. diverticulitis. Colon polyps symptoms that usually do not occur with diverticulitis include black stools, changes in the shape of stools, and anemia. Symptoms of diverticulitis that do not occur with colon polyps include painful urination, persistent fever, inflammation, and constipation from the infection. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of diverticulitis, for example, persistent abdominal pain that usually is in the lower-left abdominal area, constant unexplained fevers, diarrhea, or vomiting, recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), and rectal bleeding. If you have a lot of blood or a steady flow of blood coming from your rectum, call 911 or go to the nearest Urgent Care or hospital Emergency Department.

Constipation in adults refers to difficulty in passing stools or a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements. Causes of constipation in adults include a poor diet, excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, inadequate fluid intake, poor bowel habits, certain medications, pregnancy, certain diseases or conditions, age, and more. Treatment for constipation include lifestyle changes, OTC remedies, and medication if necessary.

Constipation in infants and children affects up to 10% of children at any given time. Causes of constipation in infants and children include a wilfulness to avoid the toilet, prior painful or frightening experiences that make them avoid the bathroom, a concern for lack of privacy in public restrooms, changes in diet, dehydration, and several medical disorders. Symptoms of constipation in infants and children include vague abdominal pain, vomiting, decreased appetite, urinary tract infections (UTIs), urinary incontinence, frequent urination, and bedwetting. Home remedies and self-care at home is possible with mild constipation, however, it may be necessary for the affected infant or child to see a pediatrician or other healthcare professional.

Crohn's disease (Crohn disease) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is a chronic long-term inflammation of the digestive tract. The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Symptoms of Crohn's disease include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, bloating, and infections of the urinary tract and vagina. Treatment for Crohn's disease includes lifestyle changes in diet, medication, and surgery.

Crohn's disease (Crohn disease) is a chronic condition that is characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease is considered an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Symptoms of Crohn's disease include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and fever. Treatment options include diet changes, medication, and surgery. The prognosis for Crohn's disease depends on the patient and the areas affected by Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is an inflammation of the small intestine. Crohn's disease is also referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease in children and teens generally develop symptoms before the age of 20. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, appetite loss, and slowed growth. Management of Crohn's disease in children and teens is possible with medication and lifestyle changes.

Dehydration occurs when the loss of body fluids (mostly water), exceeds the amount that is taken in. Causes of dehydration include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, diseases (diabetes), impaired ability to drink, lack of access to safe drinking water, and injuries to the skin. Common symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, dry skin, headache, low urine output, tiredness, sleepiness, dry mouth, and increased thirst. Treatment of dehydration depends upon the severity of the condition.

Dehydration in children can result from not drinking enough liquids, vomiting, diarrhea, or combination of these conditions. Causes of dehydration in children include viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, diabetes, and increased sweating, and others. Symptoms include sunken eyes, decrease in urination, no tears when crying, dry mouth, lethargy, and irritability. Treatment at home includes proper fluid replacement. Some cases of dehydration are so severe they may require hospitalization.

What causes diabetes, what tests diagnose it, and what is a good diabetic diet? Learn the signs of being diabetic, the treatments, and the differences between type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) can be caused by heredity, environmental factors, or ethnicity. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) can be caused by high blood pressure, high lipid levels, high-fat diet, high alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, ethnicity, or age.

Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, parasites, intestinal diseases or conditions, reactions to medications, and food intolerance or allergies. Symptoms of diarrhea include watery stools, abdominal cramping, fever, and dehydration. Most cases of diarrhea can be treated at home. In some cases (in the elderly, small children, or those with severe or chronic medical conditions) may need to be hospitalized due to dehydration.

Diverticulosis is a condition that describes small pouches in the wall of the digestive tract that occur when the inner layer of the digestive tract bulges through weak spots in the outer layer. When these diverticula become inflamed or infected, diverticulitis can develop. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane that lines the colon (the large intestine or large bowel).

Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the diverticula in the colon. This conditions is referred to as diverticulosis. Causes of diverticulosis (diverticulitis) include aging, a low fiber diet, frequent constipation and bowel straining. Symptoms of diverticulitis include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and cramping. Treatment generally requires a high fiber diet and frequent liquid hydration to prevent constipation. If complications occur with the disease or it becomes severe, surgery may be necessary.

Endometriosis is a disease in which abnormal endometrial cells grow outside of the uterus and other organs commonly found in the pelvic area. Some women with endometriosis have no symptoms, but others with the disease may experience pelvic pain, pain during intercourse and during pelvic exams, cramping during sex, bowel movements, or while urinating. The four stages of endometriosis are minimal, mild, moderate, and severe. Medications and surgery are treatments for endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic condition and there is no cure.

A fever is a body temperature of 100.4 F or greater. A fever may be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, blood clot, tumor, drug, or the environment. Treatment of fever in adults usually involves ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin.

Fever is defined as a rectal temperature over 100.4 F or 38 C. Fever isn't life-threatening unless it is persistently high - greater than a 107 F rectal temperature. Fever is usually caused by an infection. Treatment focuses on controlling the temperature, preventing dehydration, and monitoring for serious illness.

Flatulence (gas) is a normal bodily function. Excess gas may be produced by swallowing excess air, problems in the breakdown of undigested foods, lactose deficiency, malabsorbtion problems, and bowel habits such as parasites, poor dietary fiber, cancer, diverticulitis, thyroid problems, narcotic and other drug use.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Causes of hypothyroidism include: Hashimotot's thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, previous thyroid therapy, drug-induced, Pituitary or hypothalamic disease, and iron deficiency. Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are: fatigue, constipation, weight gain, poor appetite, dry and rough skin, coarse hair, hair loss, edema, depression, and elevated cholesterol levels. Treatment of hypothyroidism is generally with medication.

What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of diseases and conditions in which the intestines and other digestive structures become inflamed. Two of these diseases are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The cause of IBD is not known; however, they may be a result of an immune reaction of the body against its own intestinal tissue. Symptoms of IBD vary from person to person, and also vary by disease, but may include bloody diarrhea, fever, anemia, weight loss, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. Treatment for IBD include diet, lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery.

Lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system. Symptoms include fevers, chills, itching, enlarged spleen, and swollen lymph nodes. Treatment depends upon the type and stage of the lymphoma, in addition to the age and overall health of the individual.

Both adult Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma are types of cancer that develop in the lymphatic system, part of the body's immune system. The difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is that the cancer develops in different lymphocytes.

Ovarian cancer occurs when tumors in the female reproductive organs, the ovaries, grow out of control. Doctors aren't sure what causes ovarian cancer, but heredity plays a role. Symptoms include: Pelvic pain or pressure, Pain with intercourse, Abdominal swelling and bloating, Urinary frequency, Constipation, Ascites (collection of fluid in the abdomen), Loss of appetite, Feeling full after eating little, Gas and/or diarrhea, Nausea and vomiting, and Abnormalities in menstruation. Treatment may include surgery followed by chemotherapy.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers, one of the most non-responsive to treatment, and one of the hardest to diagnose; in one recent year, 84 % of those diagnosed in the U.S. died of the disease. It affects the pancreas, which is a crucial abdominal organ that produces insulin to maintain blood sugar, and it performs other functions crucial to digestion and metabolism.

There are few symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer in the early stages, which causes this disease to have especially low survival rates. Treatments for pancreatic cancer include: different types of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, biologic therapy or targeted therapy.

Abdominal pain in children can range from trivial to life-threatening. Symptoms of abdominal pain range from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, groin pain, urinary problems, or skin rash. The location of the abdominal pain may be around the belly button, occurs only at night, while eating. The pain pain also may be intermittent. Treatment of abdominal pain in children is depends on the cause. Possible causes of abdominal pain in children include infections, food related (food allergy or food poisoning), poisoning from medication, food, household products, appendicitis, diabetes, or spider bites.

Pancreatic cancer describes the formation of malignant cancer cells in the pancreas, which makes juices to help digest food and makes hormones to control sugar and salt in the blood. Signs of the four types of pancreatic cancer that can occur in children include: Low blood sugar. (This can cause blurred vision, headache, and feeling lightheaded, tired, weak, shaky), nervous, irritable, sweaty, confused, or hungry. Changes in behavior. Seizures. Coma. Treatment includes surgery and chemotherapy.

Cancer of the pancreas and pancreatitis (acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas) have similar symptoms like severe abdominal and/or back pain, bloating, nausea, weight loss, onset of diabetes, and depression. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer that do not occur in pancreatitis are itching, yellowing of the eyes an skin (jaundice), blood clots, and enlarged bladder. Symptoms of pancreatitis that do not occur in cancer of the pancreas include fever, sweating, vomiting, and collapse. The survival rate for pancreatic cancer is poor. Acute pancreatitis can be treated and cured if not complications occur. Damage to the pancreas due to chronic pancreatitis usually is permanent.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors form in hormone-making cells (islet cells) of the pancreas. Pancreatic NETs may or may not cause signs or symptoms. There are different kinds of functional pancreatic NETs. Having certain syndromes can increase the risk of pancreatic NETs.

There are several diseases of the thyroid gland. Signs and symptoms of thyroid disease depend upon the actual thyroid disease. Examples of hypothyroidism include depression, menstrual changes, thinning of the hair, constipation, and bloating. Examples of symptoms of hyperthyroidism include tremor, increased sweating, weight loss, and heat intolerance. In thyroid cancer, the most common symptom is a lump or nodule in the thyroid gland.

Diseases of the thyroid gland can lead to hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, thyroid goiters, or thyroid cancer. Symptoms of both hypo- and hyperthyroidism-related conditions include constipation, fatigue, weight gain, cold or heat intolerance, to coma. Treatment depends upon the thyroid condition.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection, typically of the lungs, that is caused by either bacteria or fungus. Though treatments have have greatly evolved over the years, TB is still a major health problem worldwide.

Learn the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, and dehydration. Type 2 diabetes causes and risk factors include older age, obesity, lack of exercise, family history, and excess fat around waistline. Treatments for type 2 diabetes are weight loss, a healthy diet, exercise, and medications if necessary.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membranes that line the colon. Symptoms of UC include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, urgency for a bowel movement, fever, fatigue, and lack of appetite. Treatment for UC include medication and lifestyle changes. On occasion, surgery may be a necessary treatment for ulcerative colitis.

Vomiting and nausea are common complaints that accompany many conditions and diseases. A few common causes of vomiting and nausea include food poisoning, viruses, vertigo, head injuries, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, migraine, brain tumors, and infections. Treatment of vomiting and nausea depend on the cause of the symptoms.