Which doctor treats the intestines - 362 doctors, 24998 verified reviews

Who treats constipation?

Prolonged retention of stool is called constipation or constipation. A disorder occurs due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or other organs. The problem may be associated with disruptions in the endocrine system, stress factors, childbirth, or taking medications.

Regardless of the cause, it is important to know which doctor to see for constipation in adults to restore normal bowel movements. This disorder is accompanied by many specific symptoms, including nausea, pain, weakness, and bloating.

First of all, you need to visit a therapist. The specialist will collect the necessary information, life history, diseases, calculate risk factors, and then prescribe tests. Then the therapist will refer you to a specialized doctor who specializes directly in the problem of constipation.

Which doctor treats constipation in adults:

gastroenterologist – deals with the treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies;
proctologist - deals with the treatment and prevention of pathologies of the intestines and outlet, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, colitis.

Gastroenterology covers a wide range of problems, so treatment should begin with a gastroenterologist.

Constipation is not always the cause or consequence of gastrointestinal pathologies, because it can only be a temporary phenomenon. The task of the gastroenterologist will be to eliminate the risk factor by prescribing symptomatic and etiological treatment.

If constipation is a constant problem, which is accompanied by hemorrhoids, you should consult a proctologist. He will conduct research and prescribe therapy to influence the root cause and effect.

Types of diseases and their symptoms

The intestine has two sections: thick and thin. Some diseases can develop in both departments at once, while others affect only one of them. According to etiology, all diseases can be divided into groups:

diseases caused by infection (dysentery);
congenital;
resulting from mechanical injuries;
medicinal;
radiological;
parasitic (enterobiasis, ascariasis);
toxic.

Diseases affecting the small intestine:

Eosinophilic enteritis. The reason for the accumulation of eosinophils in the walls of the organ is still not clear. Symptoms:

pain in the navel area;
nausea, vomiting;
diarrhea;
food allergies;
sudden weight loss.

Whipple's disease. It has an infectious etiology and usually affects men over 40 years of age who have disorders of the immune system. Primary signs:

increased body temperature;
painful sensations in the joints;
abdominal pain.

Diseases characteristic of the colon:

Irritable bowel syndrome. Manifests:

bloating;
abdominal pain;
periodic rumbling.

Chronic colitis. Symptoms:

pain;
bloating;
change from constipation to diarrhea and vice versa;
nausea;
decreased appetite;
sleep disturbance;
irritability.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis - the formation of ulcers on the mucous membrane. Manifestation:

bleeding;
pain;
diarrhea;
general weakness.

Diseases that can develop in any of the departments: Cancer. Symptoms of cancer are caused by the growth of the tumor and blocking of the intestinal lumen. The patient is most often concerned about:

nausea and vomiting;
periumbilical compressive pain;
constipation or diarrhea;
bloating;
the appearance of blood impurities in the stool.

Adhesive disease is the formation of adhesions between organs located in the abdominal cavity. Symptoms:

pain;
constipation;
nausea and vomiting;
no release of gases;
bloating.

Infectious gastroenterocolitis. Usually occurs against the background of digestive disorders due to the consumption of expired or low-quality products. Signs:

increased body temperature;
stomach ache;
stool disorder;
nausea and vomiting.

Survey

First, the therapist will listen to complaints, study tests, and learn about habits that could cause a disorder. When constipation is not accompanied by systemic diseases, standard treatment will be prescribed. If there are doubts about the nature of the disorder, additional studies are prescribed to identify the cause and associated diseases.

Primary required studies include:

blood test - general, biochemical;
stool blood test;
Analysis of urine.

A gastroenterologist can perform a rectal examination to identify nodules, fissures, and hemorrhoids. Additionally, a colonoscopy is prescribed. Then the gastroenterologist can see the condition of the intestines by moving a probe with a camera through it. In special cases, radiography is used.

Additional research:

blood test to detect thyroid pathologies;
sigmoidoscopy for visual assessment of the lower intestine;
colonic test to determine the duration of movement of masses through the intestines.

All doctors treating bowel pain 90

A proctologist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats diseases of the rectum. Most often people turn to him for hemorrhoids and anal fissures. During the consultation, the proctologist usually performs an external examination, digital examination, and in some cases, sigmoidoscopy. To ensure that they are informative for a consultation with a proctologist, special preparation is required.

The rectum must be cleared of feces. To do this, a cleansing enema or microenema with medications is performed. If preparation is carried out in advance, you can take laxatives. It is important that for some diseases enemas or laxatives may be contraindicated. The method of preparing for a consultation with a proctologist should be determined by the doctor referring you to a specialist.

Your doctor will tell you what kind of diagnostics you need to undergo. You may be assigned:

Ultrasound of the abdominal organs
X-ray of the urinary system (excretory urography)
X-ray of the colon (irrigoscopy)
Renal scintigraphy
X-ray of the colon (irrigoscopy)
CT bowel
CT bowel
Endoscopic research methods Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EFGDS)
CT liver
Ultrasound of the intestines
Endoscopic research methods Sigmoidoscopy
Gastroscopy
X-ray of the kidneys (antegrade pyelography)
Doppler ultrasound of renal vessels
X-ray of the urinary system (survey urography)
Abdominal CT
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs
Abdominal CT
Endoscopic research methods Sigmoidoscopy
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs
X-ray of the colon (irrigoscopy)
X-ray
Endoscopic research methods Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EFGDS)
Endoscopic research methods Colonoscopy
Ultrasound (ultrasound examination)
Kidney ultrasound
MRI of the liver and biliary tract
MRI of the intestines
Endoscopic research methods Sigmoidoscopy
Ultrasound of the liver
Kidney CT
MSCT of the liver
X-ray of the intestine
Endoscopic research methods Colonoscopy
Endoscopic research methods Colonoscopy.

When to consult a proctologist?

If you have any doubts about which doctor to go to if you have prolonged stool retention, you should first visit a therapist.

It is not always wise to go straight to a proctologist, because he deals with intestinal diseases, and constipation serves only as a symptom and is not an independent disease.

In what cases is it necessary to visit a proctologist:

anal fissures;
burning, pain, constant discomfort in the area of the colon and outlet;
suspicion of neoplasms – polyps, tumors;
haemorrhoids.

Cases when you should check your intestines

Infectious diseases

Infectious bowel diseases are accompanied by pain in the rectum and a number of other symptoms.
Infectious diseases of the intestines are varied. Infection occurs when an infection enters the intestines. A common category and less dangerous is food poisoning; there are dangerous infectious diseases, of which cholera, typhoid fever, and botulism can be distinguished. The symptoms of infectious intestinal infection are initially similar to acute respiratory viral infections: a feeling of weakness, lethargy, headache, elevated body temperature. But over a period of time, more characteristic symptoms for this category appear: acute and aching abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bowel disorders. With such problems, it is recommended to immediately seek help from a general practitioner or gastroenterologist to prescribe effective therapy.

Non-communicable diseases

Non-infectious intestinal diseases include the detection of acute appendicitis, acute intestinal obstruction, complications of peptic ulcers or paraproctitis in a person. Among the main symptoms of these disorders, it should be noted: pain (increased, constant and does not go away when taking pills), increased body temperature, severe weakness, low blood pressure, vomiting, including vomiting blood, stool instability (diarrhea or constipation) , sour belching, pain when urinating. If you discover the above problem, it is recommended to contact a gastroenterologist for testing; he, in turn, looks at the patient’s condition and, if the diagnosis is confirmed, he will refer you to a surgeon. After surgery, the patient needs to be observed in the hospital for some time.

Chronic diseases in the small and large intestine

Colon inflammation has many causes, including infection.
The most common chronic disease of the small intestine is enteritis, and the most common chronic disease of the large intestine is colitis and duodenal dyskinesia. Their characteristic symptoms are determined by: abnormal stool, flatulence, dry and pale skin, rumbling in the stomach, acute or periodic pain, false urge to defecate and purulent or bloody impurities in the urine or feces. If these signs of a disorder are detected in adults, you should contact a gastroenterologist; if detected in children, it is recommended to contact a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Diseases of the rectum

Diseases of the rectum include: hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal prolapse and many others. Common symptoms include: disturbances and pain during bowel movements (constipation and diarrhea), white discharge from the anus (due to an imbalance in the microflora of the rectum), pathological impurities in the stool. This category of disorders is dealt with by a proctologist. During emergencies, the check is carried out with the help of a proctologist surgeon, who prescribes effective treatment.

Features of therapy

How is the treatment carried out:

laxatives are prescribed - suppositories, enemas, tablets;
nutrition is adjusted;
exercises useful for the gastrointestinal tract are recommended;
risk factors are excluded - junk food, medications, sedentary lifestyle.

When treating constipation, it is important to maintain a drinking regime. Insufficient water intake also causes constipation. This is important because when using laxatives, the body loses a lot of fluid, which leads to dehydration.

There are many drugs with a different mechanism of action. Some work immediately, while others take 2 to 3 days. Some drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy, children, and gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, the drug is agreed upon with the attending physician.

The main point in treatment is diet. Without following a special diet with increased plant fiber, medications will only temporarily eliminate the problem.

When should you see a doctor?

Reasons why you should see a specialist:

Gastroenteritis. An inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, causing nausea, including vomiting, diarrhea and cramps.
Colitis of the intestines. It is an inflammation of the large intestine, and is considered the result of infectious, ulcerative or chemical colitis. Common signs of colitis include abdominal cramps, fever, frequent urge to defecate (tenesmus), and blood in the stool.
Ulcers. Characteristic not only of the stomach, the intestines also suffer. The symptoms of an ulcer are not difficult to confuse - aching pain in the upper abdomen, which is especially noticeable after eating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. The latter symptom leads to weight loss and fatigue.
Oncology. It can also develop in the large intestine, with the following symptoms: the organ begins to perform its functions poorly, frequent tenesmus occurs, the amount of stool decreases, mucus and blood appear in the stool, stool changes color to dark.

When should you see a doctor?

Reasons why you should see a specialist:

Gastroenteritis. An inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, causing nausea, including vomiting, diarrhea and cramps.
Colitis of the intestines. It is an inflammation of the large intestine, and is considered the result of infectious, ulcerative or chemical colitis. Common signs of colitis include abdominal cramps, fever, frequent urge to defecate (tenesmus), and blood in the stool.
Ulcers. Characteristic not only of the stomach, the intestines also suffer. The symptoms of an ulcer are not difficult to confuse - aching pain in the upper abdomen, which is especially noticeable after eating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. The latter symptom leads to weight loss and fatigue.
Oncology. It can also develop in the large intestine, with the following symptoms: the organ begins to perform its functions poorly, frequent tenesmus occurs, the amount of stool decreases, mucus and blood appear in the stool, stool changes color to dark.

What symptoms should you visit a therapist for?

Many factors can lead to constipation, including poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, taking certain medications, sudden climate change, and stress. However, a person is not always in a hurry to visit the hospital, because it is known that the problem can be quickly dealt with at home.

This is partly true; if constipation appears in response to a specific (known) phenomenon, you can take a laxative or use an enema. The problem will be fixed immediately without consequences. But in many cases, constipation bothers you for a long time without any apparent reason. In this case, treating constipation at home is ineffective, and you should immediately visit a specialist.

Symptoms that require consultation with a therapist or other specialist:

constant nausea with vomiting;
defecation delay for more than a week;
intense pain in the intestinal area;
the appearance of blood in the stool;
constipation, often followed by diarrhea;
chronic fatigue, constant weakness.

With such manifestations, constipation may be one of them, signaling serious gastrointestinal pathologies. When the condition is accompanied by two or more of the listed manifestations, you should immediately visit a therapist.

. That's why

or a gastroenterologist. These doctors are able to identify the problem at an early stage and prevent its complications.

Constipation.
Pain in the anus.
Anal itching.
Sharp pain in the intestines.
Blood during bowel movements.

. These may be diseases, psychological and external factors.

drug treatment;
poor nutrition;
stressful situations.

. He prescribes treatment or refers you to the appropriate specialist.

. After a visual examination, the doctor will find out the problem area and the reasons for its formation. A proctologist can also perform a sigmoidoscopy.

. Sharp pain is often a symptom of the development of acute paraproctitis, requiring immediate surgical intervention.

. Blood often indicates intestinal diseases:

rectal cancer;
ulcerative kelitis;
haemorrhoids;
polyps.

Therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, you need to contact a proctologist.

Which specialist should I contact?

Intestinal problems vary in origin and location. And during treatment it is very important to take this into account. Therefore, it is impossible to say exactly which doctor treats the intestines. When mild pain or diarrhea occurs, you should consult a physician. He will prescribe an examination that will help determine the cause of the pathology and choose a treatment method. The therapist gives a referral to more specialized specialists if the pathology turns out to be serious. It is also recommended to consult other doctors if problems with the intestines are chronic.

Diagnostics

Any disease is easier to cure at the initial stage. Don’t think that if you take pills advertised on TV, everything will go away without a trace. Intestinal disorders often become chronic. Therefore, if you experience pain or even slight discomfort, you should consult a doctor and get examined. Most often, a referral for diagnostic procedures is given by a therapist.

Functional diagnostics doctors do not make a diagnosis based on symptoms, they examine the intestines. Depending on the patient’s complaints, he is prescribed endoscopy, x-ray, ultrasound or MRI. The radiologist checks for the presence of foreign bodies, fluid, and accumulation of feces in the intestines. This examination is usually done using contrast liquids.

But most often, an FGDS or colonoscopy is prescribed to check the condition of the intestines. This examination helps to accurately examine the condition of the mucous membrane, take its contents for analysis, and prevent complications of peptic ulcer disease. Ultrasound is also often prescribed, which makes it possible to differentiate intestinal pathologies from other abdominal problems and detect tumors or foreign bodies. If a more serious pathology is suspected or if there are problems with diagnosis, an MRI may be prescribed.

Gastroenterologist

The main specialist dealing with all problems of the gastrointestinal tract is a gastroenterologist. Therefore, when a GP discovers a serious bowel disease, he refers the patient to it. A gastroenterologist is well versed in the functioning of the digestive system. He is treating a patient for chronic intestinal diseases, inflammatory pathologies, and food poisoning.

Surgeon

This doctor does not specialize in bowel problems. But with some pathologies, only he can treat his problems. These are emergency cases in which surgical intervention is necessary. Most often, a person sees a surgeon when he is hospitalized with acute abdominal pain. This doctor treats inflammation of the cecum, intestinal obstruction, perforation or perforation of an ulcer, and bleeding.

Diet for intestinal diseases

It is impossible to get rid of diseases of the digestive system if you do not follow a diet. Nutrition plays a leading role in intestinal problems.

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Recommended to eat:

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porridge;
vegetable soups;
It is recommended to eat fish and lean meat;
pay special attention to vegetables and fruits;
drink up to 2 liters of water daily;
eat fermented milk products;
eat foods with a lot of fiber;
introduce bran into the diet.

Important : You can use folk remedies. Drink decoctions of medicinal herbs.

Visit to a therapist or gastrologist

When pain occurs in the stomach and esophagus, the first thing an ordinary person does is go to see a therapist. This doctor will palpate the patient’s abdomen and visually examine his condition. The therapist may also prescribe an ultrasound examination of your gastrointestinal tract in order to identify the nature of changes in organs, and maybe even identify neoplasms in the form of tumors and cysts.

After the examination, if a severe form of the disease has been identified, the doctor writes a referral to a more specialized specialist. For example, what kind of doctor treats gastritis? Or who to go to for pain in the stomach and intestines? In this case, a referral is issued to a gastroenterologist, proctologist, or, in the worst case, sent directly to a surgeon. In addition, these doctors also have their own narrow specialization.

Some diagnoses are the responsibility of several doctors. For example, pancreatitis and the pancreas are studied by several specialists - a gastroenterologist, a surgeon and even an endocrinologist.

If you have already previously visited a therapist who has sent you to see a specialized doctor, then you need properly selected treatment, since gastritis and other gastrointestinal diseases are a very serious problem, and this should not be joked about under any circumstances.

Diagnostics

In addition, pain in the stomach area is not always associated with digestion. These may be disturbances in the functioning of the liver or gall bladder. And only a doctor can determine what the problem is.

Surveys

To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo an examination. If a gastroenterologist diagnoses you at your first appointment, you need to think about whether this doctor is really a specialist in his field?

Usually, at the first appointment, the doctor will find out about your diet, the nature of stomach pain or other unpleasant sensations. Next, the specialist recommends undergoing a digestive system examination. After all, only a deep study of the problem can correctly diagnose and cure the body in a short period. Among the most popular examinations are:

basic tests (blood, urine, etc.);
fibrogastroscopy - examination of the stomach using an endoscope;
biopsy of the stomach and intestines (if indicated);
Ultrasound of internal organs.

In addition to the main types of examinations, a specialist may prescribe additional types of symptomatic studies:

Breathing test - the patient breathes into a special bag that is evacuated. After this, the air in the bag is examined for the presence of harmful microorganisms.
Analysis of gastric juice - the analysis is taken using a specialized rubber device - a probe.
X-ray of the gastrointestinal tract.

The first stage of treatment involves a specialized diet. The patient should refuse fatty, spicy, i.e., foods harmful to the stomach. In addition to diet, medications are prescribed that can relieve pain. They do not cure the disease, but only make it easier to tolerate the disease.

Having dealt with the question of which doctor treats the stomach and intestines, the patient should then know the specific symptoms that require a visit to the gastroenterology department. These symptoms include:

heartburn;
frequent belching;
frequent persistent hiccups;
sudden weight gain or rapid weight loss;
severe gas formation, bloating;
nausea that does not go away for a long time;
bowel disorders (constipation, indigestion);
the presence of persistent heaviness in the abdomen;
bitterness in the mouth;
pain that occurs on an empty stomach;
specific odor from the mouth;
pain that occurs when eating;
coating on the tongue that has uncharacteristic signs (high density, yellow, white, large quantity);
cramps in the intestines;
changes in the color of stool not related to food intake, etc.

If a person does not have direct symptoms indicating gastrointestinal diseases, but has a rash on the body that is not related to an infectious origin, then a gastroenterologist can also help him. Having dealt with the question of which doctor treats the stomach, you should know that he also deals with patients who have metabolic disorders and improper absorption of mineral nutrients. The presence of this pathology is indicated by a sharp deterioration of hair, teeth, skin, rapid weight gain or loss.

Inflammation of gastritis is promoted not only by poor nutrition and environment, but also by the presence of various irritants and bacteria in the human body.

Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which can settle in the human stomach.
Environmental and chemical irritants that adversely affect the gastric mucosa. This includes cigarette smoke, alcohol, painkillers and antipyretics.
Various viral infections that provoke attacks of gastritis.

Which doctor treats gastritis of the stomach and how? A gastroenterologist is a doctor with special skills and training in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The risk group for these diseases includes people who abuse alcohol, smoke, regularly take painkillers and antipyretics, as well as those whose age is over 60 years.

Symptoms of gastritis include:

frequent pain between the lower ribs and the navel;
discomfort in the abdominal area;
nausea, vomiting;
loss of appetite;
constant feeling of overeating, bloating, belching;
in severe form there may be stool and vomiting with blood.

Many factors can lead to constipation, including poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, taking certain medications, sudden climate change, and stress. However, a person is not always in a hurry to visit the hospital, because it is known that the problem can be quickly dealt with at home.

Symptoms that require consultation with a therapist or other specialist:

constant nausea with vomiting;
defecation delay for more than a week;
intense pain in the intestinal area;
the appearance of blood in the stool;
constipation, often followed by diarrhea;
chronic fatigue, constant weakness.

What does a surgeon do?

Sometimes such diseases require surgical intervention.
Once diagnosed, the patient may be hospitalized. The surgeon treats intestinal disorders of a non-infectious nature:

complications caused by duodenal ulcer;
acute stage of appendicitis;
paraproctitis;
obstruction.

Skin and intestinal diseases

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Many patients complain of poor skin condition due to intestinal diseases. In addition to the appearance of acne and rashes, spider veins may appear on the body. The skin of the hands becomes flabby and dry, and a large number of pigment spots appear on it.

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This is due to intoxication of the body, because the organ cannot fully remove toxins through the intestines. Disturbances in the functioning of the organ can subsequently provoke cutaneous vasculitis, purulent stomatitis, erythema, and pyoderma. This indicates that the functioning of the intestines is directly related to the functioning of the entire body.

Causes of intestinal problems

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Poor bowel function can be due to many factors or digestive problems. The most common causes of bowel dysfunction are:

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eating disorders, excessive infatuation with fatty and spicy foods;
frequent snacking and addiction to fast food;
disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract due to irregular nutrition;
penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the intestines;
smoking and alcohol abuse;
regular consumption of sparkling water;
abuse of strong tea and coffee;
if the patient has a helminthic infestation;
if there are frequent stress and nervous shocks;
if you are overweight;
if a large amount of VIP hormone is released;
Digestive disorders may be associated with intestinal infections.

Important: The problem with the intestines can be easily eliminated if a person changes his lifestyle and gets rid of bad habits.