Understanding Duties and Diseases Handled by Gastroenterology Specialists

Gastroenterology specialist is a doctor who has special expertise in treating various kinds of disorders of the digestive tract, including disorders of the stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, bile, to the rectum. In hospitals, gastroenterology specialists are included in the internal medicine specialist department. To become a specialist gastroenterologist, a general practitioner must undergo a specialist medical education in internal medicine and explore the field of digestive health in the gastroenterohepatology subspecialist (KGEH). The duration of specialist medical education taken varies, but generally 5-6 years.

Diseases Treated by Gastroenterology Specialists

In general, gastroenterology specialists handle health problems related to the process of digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and expenditure of digestive leftovers from the body. More specifically, there are several conditions that are handled by gastroenterology doctors, including:

• Gastric ulcer

Gastric ulcers occur when sores appear on the stomach wall due to erosion of the stomach lining. Usually characterized by severe stomach pain, which is felt in the solar plexus.

• Stomach acid disease

This condition is characterized by pain in the solar plexus or a burning sensation in the chest due to the rise of stomach acid into the esophagus (esophagus).

• Pancreatic inflammation

In this condition, the pancreas becomes inflamed due to the influence of enzymatic disorders found in the digestive tract.

• Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term disorder of the digestive system that attacks the large intestine with symptoms such as flatulence, nausea and diarrhea.

• Hepatitis

In this condition, the liver or liver will become inflamed and can eventually be damaged. Often characterized by a body that looks yellow, can be accompanied by fever, nausea, and feeling full (begah) around the stomach. The main cause of hepatitis is a viral infection.

• Tumor or digestive tract cancer

Gastroenterology specialists also treat a variety of tumors and cancers in several digestive organs, such as the anus, colon, pancreas, stomach, bladder, and several other organs.

Actions Performed by a Gastroenterologist

Gastoenterology specialists have in-depth knowledge of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract. If needed, they will perform several procedures to treat patients. Some medical procedures performed by gastroenterology specialists include:

• Liver biopsy, to detect the cause of inflammation and fibrosis in the liver.
• Endoscopy, an examination using a camera-tipped tube to assess the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Can be done together with biopsy and removal of polyps in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Gastroscopy, endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, generally to assess the condition of the stomach.
• Colonoscopy, to check the state of the intestine, and detect possible polyps or colon cancer.
• Sigmoidoscopy, to determine the cause of lower gastrointestinal disorders or bleeding.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, to identify scar tissue, gallstones, or tumors in the bile duct.

When to see a specialist gastroenterologist

Disorders of the digestive tract can occur in men and women, regardless of age. However, people aged 50 years and over are more susceptible to disorders of the digestive tract. As a preventative measure, you should immediately consult a specialist gastroenterologist if you experience the following symptoms:

• Often feel abdominal pain or heartburn.
• Heartburn recurs and does not improve.
• Vomiting blood or bloody bowel movements for no reason.
• It's hard to swallow food for no apparent reason.
• The color of the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow, accompanied by fever and a feeling of heaviness or pain in the gut.
• The body is easily tired, decreased appetite or weight decreases dramatically or suddenly.

During the examination, a specialist gastroenterologist may ask a few things about your medical history and daily lifestyle to diagnose the condition. That way, your doctor can determine the right treatment and procedure to handle you. The examination needs to be done as soon as possible so that the health problems experienced do not get worse. The faster it is treated, the potential for damage to the digestive organs can be reduced. This can increase your chances of recovery, and get back to daily activities immediately.