Chronic gastrointestinal illness sometimes develops after international travel. The latest review article in our Current Concepts series covers the diagnosis of the major enteropathogens and provides recommendations for treatment. In a recent study that analyzed data from the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network (which consists of 42 specialized travel or tropical-medicine sites located around the world) on… Read More…
In the latest Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, a 27-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital in Ethiopia because of severe abdominal pain during labor, with cessation of contractions. She had been in labor at home, pushing for 24 hours. On arrival at the hospital 3 hours later, she was in shock. A… Read More…
Various peripheral mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome, including intraluminal intestinal irritants, alteration in the bowel microbiome, enteroendocrine-cell products, and susceptibility to inflammation. Recent evidence is summarized in the latest review in our Mechanisms of Diseases series. IBS affects 10 to 20% of the population. Specific peripheral mechanisms result in… Read More…
In the latest Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, a 15-year-old boy had intermittent abdominal pain and diarrhea for 8 months. The abdomen was mildly tender. There was iron deficiency and occult blood in the stool. A diagnostic test was performed. In an older child presenting with abdominal pain and an abdominal CT scan… Read More…
In this week’s Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, a 59-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of 9 months of abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss. He was born in a Caribbean country and had been treated for intestinal strongyloidiasis years earlier. A diagnosis of celiac disease had recently been made. S…. Read More…
In the latest Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, a 34-year-old man was seen in the emergency department because of abdominal pain and vomiting after his wife had given him a powder to cause him to stop drinking alcohol. The substance was identified, diagnostic tests were performed, and management decisions were made. Patients with… Read More…
