25. TYPICAL FORMS OF PATHOLOGY OF DIGESTION

Based on the type of physiological process which is deranged, disorders of digestion can be classified into the following forms:

• disorders of appetite;

• disorders of secretion;

• disorders of absorption;

• disorders of motility.

Typical forms of disorders of digestion are shown in fig. 33.

Fig. 33. Typical forms of digestion disorders

DISORDERS OF APPETITE

Hyporexia, anorexia

A decrease or loss of appetite may occur in stomatitis, gastritis, enteritis, infectious diseases with intoxication and high fever, malignant tumors, endocrine disorders, neurosis.

Rapid satiety

Rapid satiety means rapid loss of appetite soon after beginning of eating. This disorder may be observed after resection of the stomach and in certain mental conditions.

Hyperrexia (bulimia)

Hyperrexia (bulimia) may occur in some endocrine disorders (e.g. diabetes mellitus), some mental disorders (schizophrenia, bulimia neurosa).

Parorexia

Parorexia implies eating of uneatable substances. It may occur in schizophrenia, iron-deficient anemia.

DISORDERS OF DIGESTION IN THE ORAL CAVITY

Dysfunction of the salivary glands

Hypersalivation

Hypersalivation occurs in stomatitis, intoxication by nicotine or mercury, toxicosis of pregnancy, parasitic infection, drugs increasing the vagal tone (m-cholinomimetics) or as a result of reflexes (injury of the teeth or trigeminal nerve), disorders of the nervous system (encephalitis). Hypersalivation leads to neutralization of the gastric juice, abnormal digestion of proteins, increased passage of food to the duodenum.

Hyposalivation

This may occur during inflammation or atrophy of the salivary glands, obstruction of the salivary ducts, ingestion of drugs (cholinoblockers), some endocrine disorders, hypohydration, trauma or infection of the brain.