Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConditionsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Conditions
Diagnosis
Treatment
The small intestine, also called the small bowel, is part of the digestive tract. This organ connects the stomach and the large intestine and is the longest part of thedigestive system. A number of conditions can interfere with digestion and affect the small intestine. Pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea may occur as symptoms of these disorders.
As food being digested travels through it, the small intestine absorbs vitamins and minerals. Problems with thesmall intestinecan cause not only discomfort but also nutritional problems, and this can affect the rest of the body.
Diseases and conditions that can affect the small intestine includeCrohn’s disease,celiac disease,small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), andirritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
This article will provide a brief overview of some of the more common small bowel disorders, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Conditions That Affect the Small Intestine
When food is chewed and swallowed, it goes down theesophagus(food tube) into the stomach, and then into the small intestine. It travels through the three parts of the small intestine—theduodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The muscles in the walls of the small bowel move the food along while it is digested and vitamins and minerals are absorbed.
Several problems can occur in the small intestine and affect how well it digests food.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’sdisease is one form ofinflammatory bowel disease(IBD). It can affect the small intestine as well as the rest of the digestive tract. It causesinflammationin the lining of the walls of the gut. This can lead to ulcers. Other problems that can occur in the digestive tract include pain, diarrhea, constipation, and not digesting food well.
Crohn’s disease symptoms may include:
Outside of the gut, there can also be problems with the eyes, skin, mouth, and joints. You may also experience whole-body symptoms like fever and fatigue.
Crohn’s Flare: Symptoms, Causes, When to Go to the Hospital
Celiac Disease
Celiacdisease is anautoimmune disease. When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body.
Celiac disease affects the small intestine. The lining of the small bowel is covered invilli, which are like little fingers. The villi absorb nutrients from food.
When a person with celiac disease eats gluten,white blood cellsattack the villi, which then become worn down. This leaves the small intestine less able to absorb vitamins and minerals from food.
Some people may experience no symptoms, but for those who do, symptoms include:
There can also be signs in other parts of the body that include anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells), joint pain, fatigue, or other problems, especially in adults.
Coping With Celiac Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a common condition that can affect the intestines. It can cause:
The symptoms can be bad enough to interfere with daily life, such as going to school or work and socializing.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Obstruction
A small intestineobstructionor blockage means that there is something blocking food from going through. This can happen as a result of another condition, such as Crohn’s disease. Inflammation can cause the bowel to become blocked or lead to scar tissue that thickens the walls of the intestine.
Food can become stuck if there is a condition that causes the small bowel to move food too slowly (called motility disorders).
Symptoms of obstruction include:
A bowel obstruction can be an emergency. Blockages might be treated with medication and fluids in the hospital. In serious cases,surgerymight be needed.
What Is Distal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome?
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
The small and large intestines are normally home to microorganisms (gut flora), which are essential to their function. The bacteria can get out of balance and overgrow. This can lead to symptoms such as:
The condition can also cause other symptoms outside the digestive system such as fatigue and weakness.
SIBO can be difficult to diagnose and treat. It might be associated with other conditions such as IBS, diabetes, or autoimmune conditions.
SIBO Treatment: Antibiotics and Diet Changes to Try
How Are Small Intestine Problems Diagnosed?
When problems in the small intestine start, the signs and symptoms might not seem related to digestion. In some cases, it might take time and a healthcare provider who is good at diagnosing to get to the heart of the matter.
Some of the tests that might be used to find problems in the small intestine include:
How Are Small Intestine Problems Treated?
The treatment for small bowel conditions will be different based on what’s causing them. However, part of treatment might include lifestyle changes such as nutrition and diet, stress reduction, or working with a mental health professional.
The treatment for celiac disease isavoiding gluten. There currently aren’t any medications to treat the condition, although there may be treatments for symptoms outside the digestive system.
ForCrohn’s disease, treatment requires lifestyle changes as well as medications. In some cases, such as when the bowel becomes narrowed, surgery might be needed.
SIBO may be treatedwith antibiotics to curtail the growth of the bacteria. Other treatments could include getting any associated conditions under control, as well as nutritional support.
Summary
Diseases and disorders of the small intestine are common. They include Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and irritable bowel syndrome. These may cause digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or vomiting. They may also lead to vitamin deficiencies or anemia.
Diagnosis of these conditions may take time and a variety of imaging tests. Treatment may involve making changes to lifestyle, especially to diet. For some conditions, medications and surgery might also be used to manage the signs and symptoms.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caio G, Volta U, Sapone A, et al.Celiac disease: a comprehensive current review.BMC Med.2019;17(1):142. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1380-z.Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036.Bower KL, Lollar DI, Williams SL, Adkins FC, Luyimbazi DT, Bower CE.Small bowel obstruction.Surg Clin North Am. 2018;98(5):945-971. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2018.05.007.Rao SSC, Bhagatwala J.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Clinical features and therapeutic management.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2019;10(10):e00078. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000078.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caio G, Volta U, Sapone A, et al.Celiac disease: a comprehensive current review.BMC Med.2019;17(1):142. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1380-z.Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036.Bower KL, Lollar DI, Williams SL, Adkins FC, Luyimbazi DT, Bower CE.Small bowel obstruction.Surg Clin North Am. 2018;98(5):945-971. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2018.05.007.Rao SSC, Bhagatwala J.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Clinical features and therapeutic management.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2019;10(10):e00078. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000078.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Caio G, Volta U, Sapone A, et al.Celiac disease: a comprehensive current review.BMC Med.2019;17(1):142. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1380-z.Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036.Bower KL, Lollar DI, Williams SL, Adkins FC, Luyimbazi DT, Bower CE.Small bowel obstruction.Surg Clin North Am. 2018;98(5):945-971. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2018.05.007.Rao SSC, Bhagatwala J.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Clinical features and therapeutic management.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2019;10(10):e00078. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000078.
Caio G, Volta U, Sapone A, et al.Celiac disease: a comprehensive current review.BMC Med.2019;17(1):142. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1380-z.
Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: Management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036.
Bower KL, Lollar DI, Williams SL, Adkins FC, Luyimbazi DT, Bower CE.Small bowel obstruction.Surg Clin North Am. 2018;98(5):945-971. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2018.05.007.
Rao SSC, Bhagatwala J.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Clinical features and therapeutic management.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2019;10(10):e00078. doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000078.
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