| ID | 55 |
|---|---|
| Name | GASTROINTESTINAL GAS |
| Cause | |
| Signs Symptoms | |
| Diagnosis | |
| Investigations | |
| Management | |
| Introduction | Gastrointestinal gas may be due to swallowed air e.g nitrogen and oxygen and that produced in the gut- carbondioxide, hydrogen, methane. There is two consequences of excessive gastrointestinal gas: i. Belching- involuntary or voluntary release of gas from the stomach or oesophagus (eructation); ii. Flatus- passage of intestinal gas through rectum. Excessive passage of flatus is due largely to gases formed by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates in the intestine such as H2, CO2 & CH4. Many problems of abdominal bloating or distension with pain appears to be caused by disordered bowel motility rather than excessive gas |
| History | |
| Etiology | |
| Clinical Features | |
| Preventions | |
| Treatment | Treatment: 1. Specific treatment if any cause. 2. Correction of aerophagia- anxiety states are often associated with deep breathing and sighing and consequent swallowing of considerable quantities of air. So, underlying anxiety states should be treated. 3. Instruct the patient to avoid dietary, indiscretions, such as eating too rapidly, drinking large quantities of iquids with meals, taking laxatives, chewing gums, eating too much while under emotional stress. 4. Nutritious and well tolerated diet; avoid diet that lead to excessive flatulence. 5. Drugs: i. Carminative mixtures are used to expel gas from stomach and intestine (by inducing relaxation of the cardio-oesophageal sphincter); ii. Charcoal (ultracarbon) and simethicone are only of placebo value, iii. Anticholinergics- sedative durgs serve to diminish the flow of saliva, thereby reducing aerophagia and bowel motility. iv. Rifaximin (a nonabsorbable oral antibiotic) 400mg twice daily may reduce abdominal bloating and flatulence in approximately 40% of the patients. The improvement of the condition is due to antibiotic suppression of gas producing colonic bacteria, but, there may be relapse of the same within days after stopping the drug. |
| Complications | |
| Prognosis | |
| Types | |
| Classification | |
| Observation | |
| Pathology |
© Pakistan Drug Directory. All Rights Reserved.
Designed By: Pakistan Drug Directory Team