Duodenum: inflammation, causes and treatment

small 30-centimeter tube in which food enters the stomach - duodenum, inflammationIts mucosa is called duodenitis. The disease can be triggered by a variety of factors: malnutrition, infections, medication. It is accompanied by a violation of the digestive process and other unpleasant symptoms.

The treatment of duodenitis is performed by a gastroenterologist, and in his absence - a therapist. Along with medicamental methods to eliminate inflammation and restore the functions of the duodenum physiotherapy procedures and folk remedies are used.

Classification

From where revealed inflammation, duodenitis can be:

• widespread - across the duodenal mucosa;
• localized - inflammation is noted on individual sites.

latter type of disease can have a specific name :

• Bulba - an inflammation of duodenal bulb, that is, its very wide upper portion.
• Sphincteritis is an inflammatory process located near the sphincter of Oddi, that is, a smooth muscle that controls the amount of digestive juice coming from the pancreas and gallbladder.
• Papillitis - the area of ​​the Fater's papilla, that is, a site on the mucosa, on which the ducts of the pancreas and gallbladder are located, is inflamed.
• Duodenitis of the distal part - inflammation of the area where the duodenum goes into the small intestine.

Another classification of the disease is based on the nature of its course, duodenitis can be:

1. Acute is a strong short-term inflammation of the mucous membrane that develops due to poisoning or a viral infection( viral hepatitis A, dysentery, salmonellosis, cholera).
2. Chronic - prolonged inflammation of the mucosa, in which the periods of remission alternate with exacerbations. By lesion depth walls duodenum this type can be a superficial duodenitis( inflamed mucosa), atrophic( thinned mucosa, damaged gland), erosive( damaged intestinal wall, there is erosion) flegomonoznym( with suppuration portions).

reasons pathology

inflammation of the duodenum can occur due to many reasons, among which:

• unhealthy diet with a predominance of fatty, spicy and smoked products;
• frequent use of alcoholic beverages;
• poisoning with poisons, for example, inedible mushrooms);
• uncontrolled drug intake;
• parasitic diseases such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, opisthorchiasis, giardiasis;
• gastro-intestinal tract such as gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, colitis, tumors, etc.;
• activation of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which causes damage to the mucous membrane of any part of the digestive tract, including the duodenum.

Determining the cause of duodenitis is necessary for the appointment of adequate treatment. Sometimes the disease causes several factors at once, for example, malnutrition in combination with the reproduction of helicobacteria.

Symptoms of

Symptoms of inflammation of the duodenum are determined by the features and depth of the lesion of the walls. The main manifestation of the disease is abdominal pain. With superficial duodenitis, when only the mucous membrane is inflamed, uncomfortable sensations appear in the area above the navel.

Atrophic lesion, accompanied by damage to the glandular digestive ducts and thinning of the epithelial layer, may be supplemented with minor pains or leakage without them. The symptoms of general malaise come first: fatigue, weakness, dizziness.

In erosive duodenitis, pains are sharp and severe, appearing in the upper abdomen, intensifying when the stomach is empty.

In addition to the pain syndrome for all forms of the disease, the following symptoms are typical:

• decrease or total absence of appetite;
• nausea, which in most patients manifests itself after eating;
• single vomiting( rarely, in severe cases - multiple);
• acute duodenitis is accompanied by an increase in body temperature up to 39 ° C;
• bitter belching;
• prolonged attacks of hiccoughs( up to half an hour and longer);Heartburn and bloating
• ;
• increased heart rate;
• with erosion - bleeding.

Inflammation of the stomach and duodenum is most often exacerbated in spring and autumn. Symptoms are all the more pronounced, the more damaged the walls of the organ.

Who is affected?

Studies confirm that in young men, more acidity of the stomach is observed more often than in other groups. A reduced content of hydrochloric acid is found in women and patients with giardiasis.

According to statistics, acute duodenitis is equally affected by men and women. This form arises from poisoning and viral infections - diseases that affect patients of both sexes.

Chronic duodenitis often develops in men aged 30 to 50 years. This may be due to both increased acidity of the stomach, which is a favorable condition for the development of some pathogenic bacteria, and with lifestyle characteristics.

It is proved that smoking( exposure to tobacco smoke), eating "on the run", frequent consumption of fatty and spicy food, alcohol leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the duodenum. Read more on how to reduce gastric acidity →

Diagnosis

Before starting treatment of inflammation of the duodenum, the doctor performs a diagnosis, finds out the cause of the disease. After talking with the patient and clarifying the complaints, he performs the palpation of the abdominal region: in the upper part of the patient there is soreness.

To confirm suspicion of duodenitis, the patient is referred for additional examinations:

• FGD( phagogastroduodenoscopy) - examination of the digestive organs with a probe;
• ultrasound examination of the digestive system;
• determination of the acidity level of gastric juice, biochemical study;
• X-ray examination of the stomach and duodenum;
• coprogram - a laboratory study of stool;
• biochemical blood test.

If the doctor suspects of cancer tumors during the FGD, the sites of the affected tissue are taken for laboratory examination( biopsy).For differential diagnosis, CT and MRI of the digestive organs can additionally be prescribed.

Methods of treatment of inflammation of the duodenum

Acute inflammation of the duodenum requires emergency treatment. First of all, the digestive tract is washed with special solutions - the remnants of food, toxins are removed. Then medication is prescribed. Folk remedies are applied in addition to the traditional ones, they help to remove pain and reduce inflammation, but do not affect the cause of the disease.

Traditional methods

Traditional treatment for inflammation of the stomach and duodenal mucosa involves taking medications and maintaining a diet.

The following groups of drugs are prescribed for :

• antibiotics if duodenitis is caused by the activation of Helicobacterpylori( Amoxicillin, Metronidazole) bacteria;
• antiparasitic agents if worms or protozoa are identified( Azinox, Helmintox, Vermox);
• antisecretory drugs( proton pump inhibitors) to reduce the effect of gastric juice on the mucosa( lansoprazole, omeprazole);
• antispasmodics to eliminate pain( drotaverin, no-sppa);
• enveloping preparations for mucosal protection( De-nol, Vis-nol);
• prokinetics required for violations of the motor function of the duodenum( Domperidone).

When the exacerbation of the disease is eliminated, a course of physiotherapy procedures can be conducted. Paraffin applications, UHF, diathermy, electrophoresis with novocaine are prescribed.

Phlegmonous duodenitis is treated surgically. With the help of tampons and drains, pus is removed, antibiotics are injected into the retroperitoneal tissue.

Folk methods

Treatment of inflammation of the duodenum with folk methods helps reduce inflammation and pain, quickly restore digestion.

The following tools are effective:

• Add 1 tsp of boiling water to a glass of boiling water. Flaxseed, wait 20 minutes. Take in the morning on an empty stomach in small sips. The course of therapy is 1 month.
• A half a kilogram of sea-buckthorn berries, add half a liter of vegetable oil. Insist for a week in a sealed container, rub through a sieve. Take 1 tbsp. L.Every day for a month.
• Prepare the infusion of St. John's wort. Drink a small sip on an empty stomach for 1 glass a day. Duration of treatment - 1 month.
• From the stems and leaves of plantain juice. Mix it 2 tbsp. L.With 1 tbsp. L.Honey. Take 1 tsp. Means on an empty stomach daily for a month.

Complications of duodenitis

Inflammation of the duodenum can lead to a number of complications. The most frequent bleeding occurs from the sites of damage, ulcers, periduodenitis.

In rare cases, the disease leads to stenosis of the pylorus, the development of malignant tumors, and the decrease in the acidity of the gastric juice. Due to the death of tissues and glandular ducts, duodenal hormone deficiency( a lack of hormones) can develop. Phlegmoid duodenitis can lead to peritonitis and sepsis.

Prevention

To prevent the development of duodenitis, it is necessary to eliminate the factors that cause it. First of all, you need to balance nutrition, eliminating fatty, spicy and smoked food. It will also be necessary to stop smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, using drugs without the supervision of a doctor.

An important role in the prevention of duodenitis is the timely detection and elimination of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In the absence of complaints, one visit to the gastroenterologist and one endoscopic examination per year is sufficient.

Diet

Diet in case of inflammation of the stomach and duodenum during the exacerbation implies the rejection of any products that irritate the mucous membrane. Prohibited sharp, fatty and fried foods, spices, strong broths, vegetables, fruits, bread and fresh pastries. The diet consists of mucous soups from mango, oatmeal or rice, steam soufflé, liquid cereals, omelettes, kissels, honey.

After 10-14 days, when the aggravation is removed, the list of allowed products becomes wider. You can eat cutlets, knels and meatballs from fish or meat, steamed, mashed soups. Gradually you can enter into the diet cooked vegetables and fruits, cottage cheese, eggs.

Even during remission, you should not eat sharp, fried and fatty foods, canned food, foods with food additives, carbonated drinks.

Inflammation of the duodenum is called duodenitis. This disease is manifested by pain and digestive disorders. Treatment is based on medication, the use of physiotherapy and folk methods. In rare cases, with a purulent complication, surgery is required.

Author: Olga Khanova, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru

Useful video about inflammation of the duodenum