Diseases of the digestive system and metabolism

Gastroesophageal reflux: person pressing their right hand on their ribcage.

Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Severe heartburn and burping are frequent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – also known as chronic acid reflux. Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) may also occur.

A woman sitting on a couch with her arms wrapped around her stomach.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not dangerous but can be painful and bothersome. Typical symptoms of a nervous bowel include abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.

Obesity (severe overweight)

Being obese, i.e. severely overweight can affect a person’s health, physical resilience and mobility. Losing even a small amount of weight can have a positive effect on health.

A doctor performs an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland.

Overactive thyroid

The thyroid gland is classed as overactive when it produces more hormones than usual. This speeds up the metabolism and results in symptoms such as weight loss, perspiration or heart palpitations.

Type 2 diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, the blood sugar level is raised because the body’s cells fail to respond properly to the hormone insulin and don’t absorb enough sugar from the blood.

Lactose intolerance

Some people get digestive problems after drinking milk or eating dairy products. This may be due to a lactose intolerance: people affected can only tolerate small amounts of milk sugar.

Type 1 diabetes

With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces very little or no insulin. To supply the body with this essential hormone, people with the disease need daily injections of insulin.

Gastritis

Typical symptoms of acute gastritis are stomachache, feeling full, bloating, gas and heartburn. In most cases, gastritis is caused by a bacterial infection or the use of certain pain medication.

A woman sits bent forward on the toilet, holding a roll of toilet paper in her hand.

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease involving inflammation of sections of the digestive system. Read on to find out what causes it and which treatment options are available.

Woman lying on a couch supported on a few pillows. She is clutching her head and looks exhausted.

Anemia

Anemia is a shortage of the red blood pigment hemoglobin. Possible causes include an iron deficiency and blood loss. Read on to find out more about causes, treatment, and prevention.

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Symptom-free phases alternate with acute phases. It can cause severe pain, diarrhea and weight loss.

Diverticulitis (intestinal disease): man holding his stomach with both hands.

Diverticulitis (diverticular disease)

Diverticula are pouches in the intestinal mucosa. Stool can accumulate in them. Diverticula are often harmless, but can lead to medical conditions such as diverticulitis and intestinal diverticula.

Norovirus: blood test test tube with a sticker for a positive norovirus test.

Gastrointestinal infection by noroviruses

Symptoms of an infection with noroviruses are vomiting and diarrhea. An outbreak of this illness must be halted quickly.

A doctor standing next to a man sitting up in a hospital bed.

Bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Germany. Each year, approximately 58,000 men and women are diagnosed with bowel cancer.

A pregnant woman sits on a treatment table. A woman in a blue lab coat and surgical gloves sits next to her holding a measuring device on the pregnant woman’s hand.

Gestational diabetes

Diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes) increases the risk of certain rare birth complications. This risk can usually be reduced by a change in diet.

Pancreatic cancer

About 20,000 people in Germany develop pancreatic cancer each year. The tumor is often detected very late and so the chances of recovery are accordingly unfavorable.

Stomach cancer

Stomach cancer is a malignant tumor condition of the gastric mucosa. In most patients, the tumor originates from the pancreatic ducts of the gastric mucosa.

Liver cancer

Liver cancer is often only detected at a late stage. As a result, it is often no longer curable. The treatment depends on the stage of the disease.

A child in underwear clutching at their bottom. A toilet in the background.

Pinworms (enterobiasis)

Pinworm infection is one of the most common human worm conditions. It is usually harmless, and it typically becomes apparent due to itching around the anus.

A patient in medical clothing lies on an intensive care bed clutching his stomach.

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile bacteria can cause intestinal inflammation and diarrhea. The condition is usually triggered by taking antibiotics.

An older man is sitting down, pressing both hands to his abdomen. A woman sits next to him. A doctor stands in front of them taking notes.

Gallstones

Gallstones can trigger spasmodic epigastric pain. They develop from thickened bile fluid. Some people have gallstones without noticing them.

Listeriosis

Listeriosis is a bacterial infection caused by consuming contaminated food. Most cases are mild. However, some people may become seriously ill and can even die from listeriosis.

Food allergy

People with a food allergy usually react to even very small quantities. What are the typical symptoms? How is a food allergy treated?

Hands of a woman cutting chicken into slices. The meat is on a wooden chopping board.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by bacteria in food. The main symptom is diarrhea. It may be accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

Hernia: man showing his bare chest and belly.

Hernias

Most hernias occur when part of the bowel or peritoneum pushes through a gap in the abdominal wall. Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia. It is mainly men who develop these.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common illness. It is often the result of a viral infection. Persistent diarrhea must be treated because it can lead to loss of fluids and sodium depletion.

A woman is holding both hands to her chest. She looks tense, as if she is in pain.

Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a tumor in the esophageal mucosa. There are two common types: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Functional symptoms: man sitting on a chair in a medical examination room holding his knee.

Non-specific physical disorders (functional somatic syndromes)

Many people experience persistent somatic symptoms with no clear medical cause. Functional somatic syndromes can be caused by stress and conflict.

Gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma: doctor holding the model of a liver with gall bladder in his left hand. He is holding a ballpoint pen in his right hand which he is pointing at the gall bladder.

Cancer of the gallbladder and bile ducts

With cancer in the gallbladder and bile ducts, symptoms often only appear when the disease is in an advanced stage. Such tumors are therefore usually only detected late.

A woman is holding her stomach with both hands.

Constipation in adults

Chronic constipation affects quality of life. The symptoms can often be improved by making changes to diet and lifestyle. Treatment is important to avoid potential complications.

Close-up of a drawing up needle in a vaccine solution

Typhoid and paratyphoid

Typhoid is caused by bacteria in contaminated drinking water and food. It is recommended that people get a typhoid vaccine before travel to high-risk areas and take care with food and drink.

A small child sits on the toilet. His feet are resting on a small stool.

Constipation in children

Many children suffer from constipation. Stool softeners, toilet training and dietary changes are the key elements of a successful treatment plan.

A woman with excess weight getting exercise

Metabolic syndrome

With metabolic syndrome, people have excess weight, high blood pressure and a disrupted blood sugar and lipid metabolism. A healthy lifestyle helps prevent this condition and its complications.

Foot showing a swollen joint on the big toe.

Gout

Gout is a metabolic disorder that inflames the joints. Acute gout attacks often start at night or early in the morning, with a sudden, painful swelling of the joints.

A man holds his stomach because he needs to belch.

Indigestion (functional dyspepsia)

Indigestion primarily causes stomach ache and an early feeling of satiety or fullness. There are many causes and treatment options.

An eye showing a yellowish discoloration

Cirrhosis of the liver

Cirrhosis of the liver is a process in which liver tissue is destroyed and transformed into connective tissue that has no function – up to the point where the liver is completely shrunken.

Appendicitis: man standing in his living room holding his belly. He looks tense and appears to be in pain.

Acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is accompanied by severe abdominal pain and usually requires surgery. A possible complication is a ruptured appendix, which can be life-threatening.

A laboratory worker wearing blue protective gloves fills out an evaluation sheet on a clipboard. He is holding a pen in his right hand and a sample container in his left.

Acidosis

Acidosis is a condition in which the body’s pH balance is disrupted. As a result, the pH value of the blood drops and becomes “acidic”. This acidity is usually due to an underlying illness.

A man is holding the right side of his abdomen. He is grimacing in pain.

Obstruction of the gallbladder

Gallbladder obstruction is usually accompanied by spasmodic pain in the upper abdomen. As a result, the bile ducts and gallbladder may become inflamed. The gallbladder is often surgically removed.

A table with a range of foods that are rich in vitamin B, such as pulses, cheese, eggs, mushrooms, milk, nuts and liver.

Vitamin B deficiency

Vitamin B is a group of eight vitamins, the most important of which are B1, B6, B9 (folate) and B12. Eating a balanced diet prevents a deficiency in these vitamins.

Duodenal ulcer

An ulcer in the duodenum usually occurs as a result of regular use of certain pain medication or infection with specific bacteria. These ulcers are normally easy to treat.

Hemorrhoids: man sitting in a bath looking at a toilet with the seat up and holding a roll of toilet paper in his right hand.

Everyone has hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids only cause symptoms when they become enlarged. Hemorrhoidal disease is treated differently depending on the size of the hemorrhoids and the severity of the symptoms.

Gastric ulcer

A gastric ulcer usually occurs as a result of an infection with certain bacteria or due to long-term use of certain drugs for pain relief. Gastric ulcers are normally easy to treat.

Zinc deficiency

Zinc is a mineral that is important, for example, for growth in children and for the immune system. The body absorbs zinc from food. A balanced diet normally prevents a zinc deficiency.

Magnesium deficiency

Magnesium is important for bones, muscles, nerves and teeth. A balanced diet normally provides the body with sufficient quantities of magnesium. A magnesium deficiency is easily treated.

Man lying on a sofa. He is attached to a ventilator via a mask. There are various forms of medication on the table next to him.

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a rare, congenital metabolic disorder that cannot be cured. Treatments can help improve patients’ quality of life and life expectancy.

Close-up: person sitting on the floor next to a bed holding their stomach with both hands, apparently in pain.

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (paralytic ileus)

If muscle paralysis occurs in the intestines, the movement of ingested food is obstructed. To avoid symptoms and complications, normal movement of food through the intestines needs to be restored.

Gym employee showing an obese woman how the treadmill works.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is caused by changes to the liver. It does not impair liver function at first. However fatty liver disease can lead to harmful cirrhosis of the liver.

Pancreatitis: doctor with both hands round a patient’s hand.

Acute pancreatitis

An acutely inflamed pancreas can cause a severe and sudden onset of pain. This is often triggered by gallstones.

Bottle opener being used to open a beer bottle.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease

With alcoholic fatty liver disease, a change occurs in the liver. Liver function is not impaired at first. However, this condition can be a precursor of various life-threatening diseases.

Campylobacter infection

Campylobacter infection is an infectious disease with a high temperature and diarrhea. It is generally caused by eating contaminated food of animal origin.

Digestion and metabolism