Response to question 1
In comparing causes, means of prevention, mechanisms of pathogenicity, and treatments of constipation and diarrhea, an outline how these two conditions affect the digestive system. Constipation refers to irregular hard bowel movements, which are very difficult to pass via the anus. (McCance & Huether, 2009).
Researchers have identified primary and secondary causes of constipation. This includes voluntary withholding of stool when the urge becomes evident, besides a person’s diet. Secondary or life threatening causes are structural abnormities, which include spinal lesions, colon cancers; anal fissures; proctitis pelvic floor disorders and Parkinsonism (McCance & Huether, 2009).
Obvious prevention measures of constipation is first answering the urge top defecate, drinking adequate amounts of water, increase roughage in the diet and seeking medical intervention in conditions which predispose to the evolution of constipation. Mechanisms of pathogenicity involve voluntary/ involuntary contracting the sphincter muscles preventing stool from passing through the anus, producing outlet obstruction. In cases of structural abnormalities such as neoplasm, the urge to defecate may not be present or the canal may be blocked from disease. Treatment is through mediation, education concerning diet and surgical intervention for neoplasmic obstruction (Bharucha, 2007).
Diarrhea conversely is defined as looseness of the bowels whereby a person experiences three or four watery stools within twenty four hours. The etiology includes infections; malabsorption in the lower bowel; irritable bowel syndrome; chronic ethanol ingestion; ischemic bowel disease and hormone secreting tumors. Means of prevention is by ensuring that bacteria causing diarrhea is not ingested in food (Chang, Toner, Fukudo , Guthrie , Locke , Norton & Sperber, 2006).
Mechanisms of pathogenicity are explained as an evolved expulsion defense mechanism. Researchers Nesse and Williams (2006) posit that diarrhea may just be an emotional psychosomatic occurrence. They cited that people who were treated for shigella with anti-diarrheal medications remained feverish as against those who did not take any medication. As such, management should be aimed at rehydration with electrolytes, antibiotic therapy in cases of infection; bismuth therapy and zinc supplements (Williams & Nesse, 2006).
Response to question 11
The treatment for hepatitis is mainly directed at relieving symptoms because so far there is no cure for both viral and non viral conditions, but prevention by way of immunization. Viruses are difficult to treat because they do not respond to antibiotics and there are no anti viral medications. It is characterized by inflammation of tissue cells within the liver and has various categories depending on the etiological factors.
Symptoms include fever, muscle/ joint pains, nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; abdominal pains; diarrhea and fatigue. In Hepatitis A there is no medical treatment available. Doctors would recommend abstinence from alcohol and drugs during the period of recovery. This condition resolves itself and doesn’t need medication. Hepatitis B rest is the only treatment and hepatitis C experiments are still being conducted in finding a medication to treat this condition. In hepatitis D and E there to date are no effective treatments (Angulo, 2002)
Bharucha, A. (2007). "Constipation". Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology 21 (4): 709–31.
Chang L, Toner B, Fukudo S, Guthrie E, Locke G, Norton N, Sperber A (2006). "Gender, age, society, culture, and the patient's perspective in the functional gastrointestinal disorders".
Gastroenterology 130 (5): 1435–46.
McCance, K. & Huether, S. (2009). Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults
and Children (6th ed.).
Shet TM, Kandalkar BM, Vora IM (January 1998). "Neonatal hepatitis--an autopsy study of 14
cases". Indian J Pathol Microbiol 41 (1): 77–84.
Williams, George; Nesse, Randolph M. (2006). Why we get sick: the new science of Darwinian medicine. New York: Vintage Books.
