DISORDERS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

The inflammation of the intestinal tract is the most common ailment रोग due to bacterial or viral infections. 

The infections are also caused by the parasites परजीवी of the intestine like tapeworm, roundworm, threadworm, hookworm, pin worm, etc.

 

Jaundice कावीळ : The liver is affected, skin and eyes turn yellow due to the deposit of bile pigments.

 
Vomiting उलटी : It is the ejection of stomach contents through the mouth.  This reflex action is controlled by the vomit center in the medulla.  A feeling of nausea precedes पूर्वी मळमळते vomiting

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Diarrhoea हागवण : The abnormal frequency of bowel movement and increased liquidity of the faecal discharge is known as diarrhoea.  It reduces the absorption of food

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Constipation बद्धकोष्ठता : In constipation, the faeces are retained within the colon as the bowel movements occur irregularly.

Indigestion अपचन : In this condition, the food is not properly digested leading to a feeling of fullness.  The causes of indigestion are inadequate enzyme secretion, anxiety चिंता, food poisoning, over eating, and spicy food.

Protein-Energy Malnutrition ( PEM )
Dietary आहार deficiencies of proteins and total food calories are widespread in many underdeveloped countries of South and South-east Asia, South America, and West and Central Africa.  Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) may affect large sections of the population during drought, famine and political turmoil.  This happened in Bangladesh during the liberation war and in Ethiopia during the severe drought in the mid-eighties. 
PEM affects infants and children to produce Marasmus and Kwashiorkar.
 
Marasmus

Marasmus is produced by a simultaneous deficiency of proteins and calories.  It is found in infants less than a year in age, if mother's milk is replaced too early by other foods which are poor in both proteins and caloric value.  This often happens if the mother has second pregnancy or childbirth when the older infant is still too young.  In Marasmus, protein deficiency impairs growth and replacement of tissue proteins;  Extreme emaciation of the body and thinning of limbs results, the skin becomes dry, thin and wrinkled.  Growth rate and body weight decline considerably.  Even growth and development of brain and mental faculties are impaired.

Kwashiorkar

Kwashiorkar is produced by protein deficiency unaccompanied by calorie deficiency.  It results from the replacement of mother's milk by a high calorie- low protein diet in a child more than one year in age.  Like marasmus, kwashiorkor shows wasting of muscles, thinning of limbs, failure of growth and brain development.  But unlike marasmus, some fat is still left under the skin;  moreover, extensive oedema and swelling of body parts are seen.