Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms > Signs and Symptoms > Signs and Symptoms, Digestive Terms and Definitions

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive

Medical Definition:	Digestive system manifestations of diseases of the gastrointestinal system or of other organs.
Guide Notes:	not used for indexing; see specific digestive diseases in C6
Previously Indexed:	specific sign or symptom (1966-1997)

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive Categories.

	Aerophagy - Spasmodic swallowing of air.
	Anorexia - Clinical manifestation consisting of a physiopathological lack or loss of appetite accompanied by an aversion to food and the inability to eat.
	Constipation - Infrequent or difficult evacuation of FECES. These symptoms are associated with a variety of causes, including low DIETARY FIBER intake, emotional or nervous disturbances, systemic and structural disorders, drug-induced aggravation, and infections.
	Coprophagia - Eating of excrement.
	Diarrhea - An increased liquidity or decreased consistency of FECES, such as running stool. Fecal consistency is related to the ratio of water-holding capacity of insoluble solids to total water, rather than the amount of water present. Diarrhea is not hyperdefecation or increased fecal weight.
	Dyspepsia - Impaired digestion, especially after eating.
	Encopresis - Incontinence of feces not due to organic defect or illness.
	Eructation - The ejection of gas or air through the mouth from the stomach.
	Flatulence - Production or presence of gas in the gastrointestinal tract which may be expelled through the anus.
	Gagging - Clinical manifestation of the digestive system consisting of contraction of the muscle of the pharynx caused by stimulation of sensory receptors on the soft palate, by psychic stimuli, or systemically by drugs.
	Halitosis - An offensive, foul breath odor resulting from a variety of causes such as poor oral hygiene, dental or oral infections, or the ingestion of certain foods.
	Heartburn - Substernal pain or burning sensation, usually associated with regurgitation of gastric juice into the esophagus.
	Hiccup - A spasm of the diaphragm that causes a sudden inhalation followed by rapid closure of the glottis which produces a sound.
	Hyperphagia - Ingestion of a greater than optimal quantity of food.
	Nausea - An unpleasant sensation in the stomach usually accompanied by the urge to vomit. Common causes are early pregnancy, sea and motion sickness, emotional stress, intense pain, food poisoning, and various enteroviruses.
	Vomiting - The forcible expulsion of the contents of the STOMACH through the MOUTH.

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive Medical Definitions and Terms

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