29/12/2025
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II
INTERNAL ORGANS AND SYSTEMS
PROGRAMME:
Health Information Management Professional Diploma
SEMESTER:
Year Two – Semester One
LECTURE SIX
DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION
Disorders of the digestive system are common health problems that affect people of all ages.
Simple explanation:
This means many children, adults, and elderly people can have stomach or intestinal problems.
Example:
A child with diarrhoea or an adult with stomach pain has a digestive disorder.
These disorders interfere with normal digestion absorption and elimination of food.
Simple explanation:
They stop food from being properly digested, absorbed, or removed as waste.
Example:
If food is not digested well, the body will not get enough nutrients.
They can cause discomfort illness and reduced quality of life.
Simple explanation:
Digestive problems can make people feel sick, weak, and unhappy.
Example:
Someone with constant stomach pain may not enjoy eating or working.
Understanding digestive system disorders helps health information students interpret patient records clinical notes and hospital data related to gastrointestinal conditions in Nigeria and worldwide
Simple explanation:
Learning this topic helps students understand hospital records about stomach and intestine diseases.
Example:
A student can correctly record a patient diagnosed with peptic ulcer in the hospital file.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Digestive system disorders are conditions that affect the normal functioning of the alimentary canal and associated organs.
Simple explanation:
These are diseases that disturb how the mouth, stomach, intestines, liver, and other digestive organs work.
Example:
Diarrhoea and constipation are digestive system disorders.
Swallowing disorder is difficulty in moving food from the mouth to the stomach.
Simple explanation:
It means a person finds it hard to swallow food.
Example:
Food may get stuck in the throat when eating.
Peptic ulcer is an open sore that develops on the lining of the stomach or upper part of the small intestine.
Simple explanation:
It is a wound inside the stomach or intestine.
Example:
A patient may feel burning pain in the stomach after eating.
Diarrhoea is the passage of frequent loose or watery stool.
Simple explanation:
It means passing watery stool many times a day.
Example:
Going to the toilet five times with watery stool.
Constipation is difficulty in passing stool or infrequent bowel movement.
Simple explanation:
It means stool is hard and difficult to pass.
Example:
Passing stool only once in four days.
Nausea is the unpleasant sensation of wanting to vomit.
Simple explanation:
It is the feeling of sickness in the stomach.
Example:
Feeling like vomiting after eating spoiled food.
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth.
Simple explanation:
It means throwing up food from the stomach.
Example:
Vomiting after food poisoning.
DISORDERS OF SWALLOWING AND OESOPHAGUS
Swallowing disorders occur when food or liquid does not move smoothly from the mouth to the stomach.
Simple explanation:
Food has difficulty passing through the throat.
This condition is also known as dysphagia.
Simple explanation:
Dysphagia is the medical name for swallowing
problems.
It may result from muscle weakness nerve damage or blockage in the oesophagus.
Example:
Stroke can damage nerves needed for swallowing.
People with swallowing disorders may experience pain during swallowing choking coughing or the feeling that food is stuck in the chest.
Example:
A patient coughs while drinking water.
Case Study
An elderly patient who has suffered a stroke may develop difficulty swallowing due to damage to the nerves that control swallowing muscles.
Explanation:
Stroke affects nerves that help move food.
Oesophageal disorders include inflammation narrowing or abnormal movement of the oesophagus.
Simple explanation:
The food pipe may swell, narrow, or not move well.
These conditions may cause chest pain heartburn and difficulty swallowing.
Example:
Burning sensation in the chest after eating.
PEPTIC ULCER AND STOMACH DISORDERS
Peptic ulcer disease affects the lining of the stomach or the upper small intestine.
Simple explanation:
It causes wounds inside the stomach.
It is commonly caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori or prolonged use of pain relieving drugs.
Example:
Using painkillers daily without food.
Symptoms of peptic ulcer include burning stomach pain nausea bloating and loss of appetite.
Example:
Stomach pain that worsens at night.
Severe cases may lead to bleeding which can cause black stool or vomiting of blood.
Example:
A patient passes black stool due to internal bleeding.
Example
A patient who frequently takes pain relievers without food may develop stomach irritation
and ulcers.
Other stomach disorders include gastritis which is inflammation of the stomach lining.
Simple explanation:
The stomach lining becomes swollen and painful.
Gastritis can cause abdominal pain nausea vomiting and indigestion.
Example:
Feeling full and uncomfortable after small meals.
Case Study
A patient who consumes excessive alcohol may develop chronic gastritis leading to persistent stomach discomfort.
INTESTINAL DISORDERS
DIARRHOEA
Diarrhoea is a common intestinal disorder especially in children and adults in developing countries.
It is often caused by infection contaminated food or water or poor hygiene.
Example:
Eating food prepared with dirty hands.
Symptoms include frequent watery stool abdominal cramps dehydration and weakness.
Example:
Sunken eyes and dry mouth due to dehydration.
Example
A child who drinks contaminated water may develop diarrhoea due to intestinal infection.
CONSTIPATION
Constipation occurs when stool becomes hard dry and difficult to pass.
It may result from low fibre diet inadequate water intake lack of physical activity or certain medications.
Example:
Eating white bread and rice without vegetables.
Symptoms include infrequent bowel movement abdominal discomfort and straining during defecation.
Case Study
An office worker who eats mainly refined foods and drinks little water may suffer from chronic constipation.
GENERAL GIT DISTURBANCES
NAUSEA
Nausea is the feeling of sickness or discomfort in the stomach that often comes before vomiting.
It can be caused by infection pregnancy motion sickness or certain medications.
Example
A pregnant woman may experience nausea especially in the morning due to hormonal changes.
VOMITING
Vomiting is the forceful emptying of stomach contents through the mouth.
It is a protective response that helps the body remove harmful substances.
Causes include food poisoning infection gastrointestinal obstruction and severe pain.
Case Study
A patient with food poisoning may vomit repeatedly as the body attempts to expel contaminated food.
IMPORTANCE TO HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Accurate documentation of digestive system disorders is essential for diagnosis treatment and health planning.
Health information professionals play a key role in recording symptoms investigations and outcomes of gastrointestinal conditions in healthcare facilities across Nigeria and globally.
Example:
Correct records help doctors plan treatment and government plan health services.
