Esophageal Disorders and Gastroenteritis Overview
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
Achalasia - ✔✔Failure of lower esophageal sphincter to relax. Lower
Esophageal Sphincter (LES) - ✔✔Muscle that relaxes during swallowing.
Chagas Disease - ✔✔Causes achalasia; ganglion cells destroyed. Dysphagia -
✔✔Difficulty swallowing food or liquids. Regurgitation - ✔✔Bolus returns to
mouth if not swallowed. Nocturnal Regurgitation - ✔✔Vomiting while sleeping;
affects ⅓ of patients. Barium Swallow Test - ✔✔X-ray test to visualize
esophagus function. Bird Beak Sign - ✔✔X-ray indication of achalasia. GERD -
✔✔Gastroesophageal reflux disease; acid reflux. Heartburn - ✔✔Burning
sensation in chest due to reflux. Odynophagia - ✔✔Painful swallowing;
symptom of esophageal issues. Barrett's Esophagus - ✔✔Precancerous
condition from chronic GERD. Metaplasia - ✔✔Replacement of one cell type
with another. Squamous Cell Carcinoma - ✔✔Cancer typically in upper two-
thirds of esophagus. Adenocarcinoma - ✔✔Cancer usually in lower third;
linked to Barrett's. Gastroenteritis - ✔✔Inflammation of the GI tract; viral or
bacterial. Rotavirus - ✔✔Most common viral cause in children. Norovirus -
✔✔Most common viral cause in adults. Enterotoxigenic Infections - ✔✔Bacteria
releasing toxins causing GI inflammation. Stool Culture - ✔✔Test to identify
pathogens in diarrhea. GERD dehydration Signs - ✔✔Skin elasticity, sunken
fontanelles, low urine output. Endoscopy - ✔✔Procedure to visualize esophagus
via camera. Esophageal Manometry - ✔✔Measures pressure of the esophageal
sphincter. Symptoms of Viral Infection - ✔✔Diarrhea, cramps, nausea, low-
grade fever. Symptoms of Bacterial Infection - ✔✔Watery or bloody diarrhea,
abdominal pain.
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
Achalasia - ✔✔Failure of lower esophageal sphincter to relax. Lower
Esophageal Sphincter (LES) - ✔✔Muscle that relaxes during swallowing.
Chagas Disease - ✔✔Causes achalasia; ganglion cells destroyed. Dysphagia -
✔✔Difficulty swallowing food or liquids. Regurgitation - ✔✔Bolus returns to
mouth if not swallowed. Nocturnal Regurgitation - ✔✔Vomiting while sleeping;
affects ⅓ of patients. Barium Swallow Test - ✔✔X-ray test to visualize
esophagus function. Bird Beak Sign - ✔✔X-ray indication of achalasia. GERD -
✔✔Gastroesophageal reflux disease; acid reflux. Heartburn - ✔✔Burning
sensation in chest due to reflux. Odynophagia - ✔✔Painful swallowing;
symptom of esophageal issues. Barrett's Esophagus - ✔✔Precancerous
condition from chronic GERD. Metaplasia - ✔✔Replacement of one cell type
with another. Squamous Cell Carcinoma - ✔✔Cancer typically in upper two-
thirds of esophagus. Adenocarcinoma - ✔✔Cancer usually in lower third;
linked to Barrett's. Gastroenteritis - ✔✔Inflammation of the GI tract; viral or
bacterial. Rotavirus - ✔✔Most common viral cause in children. Norovirus -
✔✔Most common viral cause in adults. Enterotoxigenic Infections - ✔✔Bacteria
releasing toxins causing GI inflammation. Stool Culture - ✔✔Test to identify
pathogens in diarrhea. GERD dehydration Signs - ✔✔Skin elasticity, sunken
fontanelles, low urine output. Endoscopy - ✔✔Procedure to visualize esophagus
via camera. Esophageal Manometry - ✔✔Measures pressure of the esophageal
sphincter. Symptoms of Viral Infection - ✔✔Diarrhea, cramps, nausea, low-
grade fever. Symptoms of Bacterial Infection - ✔✔Watery or bloody diarrhea,
abdominal pain.
