Small Bowel Diseases

Some of the many diseases and disorders affecting the small bowel (also called the small intestine) include amyloidosis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, intestinal obstructions, dysmotility disorders, infections, intestinal lymphangiectasia, and intestinal lymphoma, tropical sprue, lactose intolerance, benign and malignant tumors, and Whipple’s disease. Among the most common of these are celiac disease (a food sensitivity to wheat gluten), inflammatory bowel disease (a collection of disorders characterized by inflammation of the intestines), gastrointestinal infections (intestinal, protozoal and salmonella) and small bowel obstructions that keep food from moving through the intestines. Treatment for these disorders varies according to each disorder but can include dietary modifications, vitamin supplements, antibiotic and other prescription medications, bowel decompression and bowel resection surgery.