Common Digestive Conditions
Information on gastrointestinal and liver conditions assessed at The Gastroenterology Group, Singapore.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): What does a patient experience?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation.
Common symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, and difficulty swallowing. Depending on the patient risk profile and clinical factors, a scope evaluation may be considered to assess for the following:
a) endoscopic evidence of reflux - acid damage to the lower esophagus
b) underlying structural causes for reflux, for example hiatal hernia
c) alarm features such as Barretts esophagus or esophageal cancer.
Management has to be individualized depending on the symtpoms and findings, and involves a combination of dietary and lifestyle modifications as well as judicious use of medications aimed at reducing acid.
What is Gastritic Intestinal Metaplasia and What can I do about it?
Gastritis refers to the inflammation of the stomach lining, which can be acute or chronic and is often triggered by infection, alcohol, or NSAID use. Gastritis by itself is relatively common and may not necessarily indicate anything serious.
Gastric intestinal metaplasia however, is a pre-malignant condition where the lining of the stomach transforms to intestinal cells, and this transformation carries with it a slightly increased risk of gastric cancer. The cause of gastric intestinal metaplasia is usually infection with Helicobacter Pylori, either active or past infection.
Diagnosis is typically confirmed through endoscopy and biopsy. Treatment focuses on identifying and eliminating the underlying causes, as well as pro-active endoscopic surveillance for those at-risk.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome and what can I do about it?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits - either loose stool or constipaiton.
It is often debilitating with the suffer having belly cramps and pain, bloating and gas, constipation or diarrhea. But although it is often a long term problem, patients need not suffer with it
After a detailed assessment and evaluation centred amongst the patient's specific clinical condition and risk profile, the management is often targeted at gut dysbiosis, adjusting food and lifestyle as well as the targeted use of some medications to restore function and relieve symptoms.
What is Helicobacter pylori and How do I Know if I have it?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that infects the stomach lining. It is a common cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers, and is a recognised risk factor for gastric cancer.
However, contrary to expectations, Helicobacter infection often has no symptoms, and is discovered incidentally when patients present for other conditions.
H. pylori can be detected by urea breath test, stool antigen test, or biopsy taken during gastroscopy. Treatment involves a course of antibiotics combined with acid suppression, followed by a test to confirm the infection has cleared.
Common Liver Conditions
Chronic Hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis refers to persistent inflammation of the liver lasting more than six months. It is primarily caused by viral infections, including Hepatitis B and C, and can lead to long-term liver damage, fibrosis, and cirrhosis if left untreated.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver cells. It is often associated with metabolic syndrome and can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves inflammation and liver cell injury.
Autoimmune Liver Disease
Autoimmune liver diseases occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the liver tissue. Conditions such as autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis require specific diagnostic workups and long-term management strategies.
Consultation is required to discuss individual risk factors, clinical suitability, and the benefits and risks of any treatment.
Screening & Symptoms
Early detection is critical for colorectal and gastric cancers. We provide factual guidance on screening eligibility and symptom awareness in the Singapore context. Risks, benefits, and suitability are discussed at individual consultation.