What is gastroenterology? Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine that deals with disorders arising from the digestive system and liver. This essentially means the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract which include all organs from the mouth to the anus. The gastrointestinal system is responsible for digesting and moving food, absorbing nutrients, and removing waste from […]

Gastroenteritis word is made up of two words, Gastro ( gastrium; means stomach) and Enteron (means small intestine); so gastroenteritis means inflammation of stomach and small intestine. In common language it is also known as “Stomach Flu” and “Food Poisoning”. It is characterized by sudden onset vomitings and loose stools. It can affect anyone at […]

The world is passing through unprecedented time. There is countrywide lockdown and everyone is confined to home. Schools and colleges are closed, and most of people have cancelled their summer trips to different tourist places. This year summer in India settled from March month and now mercury is rising day by day. Indian Meteorological Department […]

Hepatitis B signifies infected liver. It can result in scarring of liver, liver failure & cancer. It could be lethal if left untreated. Hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B. It spreads across when individuals come in contact with body fluids, blood or open sores of an individual infected with hepatitis B. It is serious however, […]

It can be said that majority of alcohol associated liver diseases (ARLD) occur due to a single common risk factor i.e., consumption of high intake of alcohol. However, research has revealed a very interesting and complex interplay of genetic, environmental and social factors which contribute to development, progression, and consequences of ARLD. It’s a fact […]

Alcohol-related liver disease or ARLD is referred to as damage to liver caused due to excessive intake of alcohol. ARLD usually does not lead to any symptoms till there is a severe damage to liver. When this happens below symptoms may show up: Feeling sick Loss of appetite Weight loss Yellowing of eyes & skin […]

Hepatitis C Hepatitis C spreads through contaminated blood. People with hepatitis C starts bleeding easily, feel fatigued and swelling in the legs. Diagnosis Transient elastography is conducted to detect Hepatitis C. Elastography is a type of ultrasound that transmits vibrations into the liver and measures the speed of their dispersal through liver tissue to estimate […]

Liver plays a crucial role in our body as whatever we eat digested with the help of liver. Liver also helps in preventing infections, and remove harmful substances from blood. Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus.  People suffering from Hepatitis-A don’t always get the symptoms, […]

Pancreatitis Pancreatitis is the inflammation of pancreas which takes place when the pancreatic enzyme secretions accumulate & start to digest the organ itself. This can take place as acute and painful attacks that last for some days or could be a chronic condition which advances over the years. Pancreatitis mainly affects the adults and is […]

Hereditary Pancreatitis Hereditary pancreatitis is rare and is a genetically inherited disorder which results in recurring occurrences of acute pancreatitis. Symptoms comprise of occurrences of nausea, abdominal pain & vomiting. With time, a patient loses his endocrine function, resulting in diabetes & nutritional deficiencies. Hereditary pancreatitis most likely makes an earlier commencement than an alcohol-related […]

Worms in intestine is a common health problem in growing children, mainly in developing countries. There are many reasons for the parasitical infection that particularly takes place because of unhygienic conditions. One of the most common reasons for infection is consumption of undercooked meat. At many places, mainly the roadside stalls, the meat dishes aren’t […]

Hepatitis C is chronic inflammation of the liver is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is a disease that affects around 1% of pregnant women and can be transmitted to baby if you do not take appropriate measures. Seven different genotypes of hepatitis C virus are known today, which can be transmitted when the […]

Hepatitis D (hepatitis D) is an inflammatory infectious disease of the liver caused by the infection of the body with the hepatitis D virus (HDV). The peculiarity of hepatitis D is that the hepatitis delta virus itself is not capable of reproducing itself. Its reproductive function is possible only in the presence of the hepatitis […]

Hepatitis E is a subset of the group of virus-related liver inflammation. Persons between the ages of 15 and 40 are particularly affected by this disease. For hepatitis E, it should be noted that there are no known chronic forms of the disease. It is only an acute form known. The sick persons usually feel […]

Hepatitis D is a viral infection that can cause acute or chronic liver disease. The Hepatitis D virus HDV requires HBV for its replication. Hepatitis D infection cannot occur in the absence of hepatitis B virus. The coinfection or superinfection of HDV with HBV causes a more severe disease than HBV mono infection. A vaccine […]

Hepatitis E is a virus that infects your liver. It can cause your liver to swell up. Most people with hepatitis E get better within a few months. Usually, it doesn’t lead to long-term illness or liver damage like some other forms of hepatitis do. But hepatitis E can be dangerous for pregnant women or […]

The hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, also known as HCV. There are many types of viruses, including hepatitis A, B, D and even E. Among all the variants, the hepatitis C virus is the most dangerous, as it can become chronic and attack the liver directly. The virus expands […]

Hepatitis C virus causes infection in the liver. Around 3.8 million individuals in India have this disease. However, it leads to fewer symptoms which is why many of them do not know about it. There exist many types of Hepatitis C virus. Type 1 is the most common in India. The virus is spread by […]

Every year more than 1 million Indians are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It is the 2nd most common form of cancer in the world. It is fortunately also 1 of the most curable form of the disease due to advancement in early detection & treatment. Through the use of various screening tests, it has become […]

Functional disorders can be defined as the health conditions in the GI or Gastrointestinal tract. They happen to be the most common issues that affect the GI tract (including both rectum and colon). IBS or Irritable Bowel syndrome and constipation are two common examples. What can cause a functional GI Issue? Several factors can upset […]

To check if the liver is functioning well, your doctor can recommend few tests to check its health status. The same would usually consist of blood tests and few radiology tests to confirm the diagnosis. It is important that you consult a gastroenterologist to get your liver health assessed and plan your future course of […]

Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition where fat builds up in the liver even without any intake of alcohol. When more than 5%-10% percent of the liver’s weight is made up of fat, it is called a fatty liver. This is a condition that includes the presence of central obesity, hypertension, diabetes […]

Liver Disease is becoming a major lifestyle ailment in India. Around 1 in every 5 Indians suffer from Fatty Liver Disease.  There are few common symptoms associated with liver disease – nausea, Fatigue, vomiting, right upper quadrant abdominal pain and jaundice (skin discoloration into yellow which happens due to elevated bilirubin concentrations in the bloodstream), weakness and weight […]

Usually, we worry about our heart, bones, hair or weight, however, not many of us focus on our liver, which plays a pivotal role in our metabolism and also helps in the production of various hormones that regulate our body systems.  Maintaining a healthy liver takes few lifestyle choices and ensuring that you maintain a […]

A Liver biopsy is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the liver to collect a sample of liver tissue.Thereafter it is analyzed by specialist pathologists to diagnose and/or stage a variety of disorders of the liver. When is a Liver biopsy needed? A liver biopsy is most often done in one of […]

The alcohol-related liver disease is a major health complication that majority of the Indians face. This ailment is mainly caused due to the excessive consumption of alcohol by a person. However, studies also reveal a very interesting and complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and social factors which contribute to development, progression, and consequences of alcohol‐related […]

Hepatitis B Infection during pregnancy is a major health issue. It needs immediate care and monitoring to ensure that the infection doesn’t spread to the baby in the womb. The important aspects to be taken into consideration are – the effects of the hepatitis virus on the mother and the fetus, the course of the […]

There is a Vaccine which is Hepatitis A Inactivated and Hepatitis B recombinant vaccine. It is branded as Twinrix. It is a vaccine which gives active immunity from both hepatitis A and B viruses. It is provided in a series of three injections on the same schedule as it is for a hepatitis B vaccine. […]

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contaminated blood. Liver infection which is long lasting and chronic is usually caused by Hepatitis C virus. It starts as acute hepatitis which begins in the 1st six months from exposure to […]

Vaccinations are the best way to prevent Hepatitis A. it is recommended for all children aged 12 months or even older, for people traveling to certain risky countries and also for people who are at high risk of infection with this virus.The hepatitis vaccine is provided as 2 shots , 6 months apart. This vaccine […]

If you have symptoms then most probably you are suffering from acute hepatitis. The first thing to be done is to consult a good Gastroenterologist for the evaluation and to get your blood investigations done. If it comes out to be positive then the most important thing is to improve sanitation; strict personal hygiene and regular hand […]

Viral hepatitis can be broadly divided into two groups based on the duration of the infection whether less/more than 6 months. The classifications are Acute Hepatitis and Chronic Hepatitis. Diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis can be made clinically as well as by blood investigations. Signs and Symptoms associated with Viral Hepatitis: Clinically patient presents with […]

Hepatitis is a general term used for inflammation of the liver.  It may result from various causes; including infectious- viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic organisms and non-infectious causes like alcohol, drugs, autoimmune diseases and metabolic diseases. Viral Hepatitis is the most common and deadly form of hepatitis.Viral hepatitis is caused by; Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis […]

Hepatitis refers to inflammatory disorders of the liver. The liver is located in the right upper area of the abdomen. It performs many critical functions that affect metabolism throughout the body, including bile production, which is essential to digestion, filtering of toxins from the body, excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs. The liver also […]

Hepatitis is a growing epidemic that is gripping our country today. Majority of the patients are undiagnosed or even misdiagnosed. Viral Hepatitis has been considered as a major health issue not just in India but worldwide. According to WHO estimates, around 52 million Indians are infected with various forms of Hepatitis and around 40 million […]

Hepatitis is a major issue that is gripping the world. Latest studies by WHO highlight that there are more than 52 million Indians infected with Hepatitis at present and majority of them are not diagnosed for the same. The most common forms of Hepatitis found in India are Hepatitis A, B and C. A staggering […]

Hepatitis C is a type of viral infection that attacks and harms the liver. It is considered to be one of the dangerous hepatitis virus which may lead to liver transplant also if not treated at the right time or even may lead to death. In most cases, hepatitis C is curable, so it’s important […]

Most common liver function tests which most of the laboratories perform include total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, enzymes which includes SGOPT, SGPT, Alkaline Phosphatase, Gamma Glut amyl Transaminase, Total Protein and Albumin. Apart from these tests USG abdomen is also needed to rule out structural diseases which cannot be picked by these tests. After these tests, based upon abnormalities and suspicion further […]

Peptic ulcers are commonly asymptomatic- this means that the ailment has no symptoms and are silent, but can progress fast. Symptomatic peptic ulcers most commonly present with epigastric (pain that is localized to the region of the upper abdomen immediately below the ribs) pain or food-provoked epigastric discomfort and fullness, early satiety, and nausea. Complications […]

Diarrhoea in adults is a common every-day condition all over the world. Besides acute infectious diarrhoea, the defination also includes many intestinal conditions that may present as diarrhoea. In general, the diarrhoea can be classified into watery diarrhoea and bloody diarrhoea by their gross stool appearance. The watery diarrhoea is managed by rehydration therapy with […]

Heartburn is one of the most common complaints encountered by gastroenterologists. It is the classic symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, where patients generally report a burning feeling, rising from the stomach or lower chest and radiating toward the neck, throat, and occasionally the back. It occurs post-meal, particularly after large meals or after ingesting spicy […]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms—including abdominal pain and changes in the pattern of bowel movements without any evidence of underlying damage. About 10 to 15% of people in the developed world are believed to be affected by IBS. This is a chronic disorder which can last for years or lifelong. It […]

Gas is a very non-specific symptom. Patient may complain of pain, swelling, lump, diarrhoea, constipation and even heart pain. So  the first step is to interpret the exact meaning of what the patient is referring to- the point of his discomfort. Most commonly gas is used for recurrent eructation’s, feeling of abdominal distension, excessive flatus, […]

Men usually suffer less from gastrointestinal diseases as a whole. There are few GI diseases where men lead ahead of women. The most important are related to alcohol consumption and it’s ill effects on liver and pancreas causing life threatening diseases like liver cirrhosis/hepatitis, acute and chronic pancreatitis. According to studies 25% of the men […]

Gastro issues such as gas, indigestion, heartburn and changes in bowel habits are common in men. These disorders are often minor that resolve with lifestyle modification and/or medication. However, sometimes there may be serious underlying disease. Gas Gas is the probably the most common complaint encountered by gastroenterologists in clinical practice. However, it must be […]

Liver is the largest internal organ of the body and weighs approximately 1.5 Kg. It is a major participant and contributor in the digestive process of the body. The liver is also responsible for detoxifying the chemicals and the drugs. It is also involved in the formulation of proteins that control the blood clotting and […]

In the ’90s, little was known about the condition called ‘fatty liver’ in a nonalcoholic individual. When I was graduating at a medical college, I used to ignore this topic, and subsequently, used to tell my patients , “Don’t worry, it’s not a problem at all”.  Many radiologists actually would not report this condition on […]

400 million people are infected with Hepatitis worldwide. Hepatitis is responsible for 400 deaths per day and also accounts for 80% of liver cancers. On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, Dr Rajnish Monga, has a conversation with Paras Blog Editors. It is believed that a simple blood test can save over 80% of Hepatitis C and […]

Where does India stand when it comes to Hepatitis? India stands in the intermediate zone in case of Hepatitis B, that is, 3-5% of population suffers from Hepatitis B. Prevalence studies of Hepatitis C show a prevalence of 1% in general population. Hepatitis E is the most common cause of jaundice epidemics. Hepatitis E in […]

Even though evidence-based medicine has flourished world over during the past few decades, and medical science has gone a long way to release itself from myths, our country is yet to get over from them. There are lots of misconceptions about hepatitis in our general population. Many believe that only those who drink are at […]