To a specialist gastroenterologist, patients tend, as a rule, with complaints about painful sensations in the epigastric region. They can be both aching and sharp. Sometimes the pain is cramping. Also, sometimes patients complain of general weakness or a feeling of bloating at the end of the meal. Such symptoms indicate, as a rule, a diagnosis such as duodenitis. In some cases, there are complaints of concomitant signs of the disease( heartburn, nausea, defecation disorders, vomiting, a complete lack of appetite or uncaused bouts of hunger).
Diagnosis at the first visit of a doctor
If a diagnosis of duodenitis is suspected, the specialist will perform abdominal palpation. Particular attention is paid, of course, to the epigastric department. This department is located just below the rib cage between the ribs, but above the navel. That is, in fact - is the projection of the stomach and duodenum on the front wall of the abdominal cavity. During palpation of the abdomen, the gastroenterologist, as a rule, discovers painful sensations in the area that corresponds to the projection of the duodenum. This indicates a possible duodenitis.
The disease is quite diverse. As a rule, the classical clinical picture of this disease in practical medicine is extremely rare. In addition, with chronic duodenitis, there is a simultaneous course of the disease with other equally dangerous diseases. In order to diagnose the acute form of duodenitis, sometimes, it is enough to pay attention to the symptoms of intoxication. But, as a rule, in order to make the diagnosis more accurately, it is extremely important to conduct instrumental differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis of duodenitis by instrumental methods
Duodenoscopy is a study of the duodenum with an endoscope. This method allows you to determine the number, as well as the quality of inflammation zones on the mucosa, as well as other pathological conditions. This means of research is considered the most important for an accurate diagnosis.
Fibrogastroduodenoscopy is one of the variants of the endoscopic method of investigation. Thanks to this method, the gastroenterologist can obtain a sufficiently accurate image of the object of study on a computer monitor. In addition, it is possible to record a disc with video and photos of the results of this study. Also this method allows you to make a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure involving the sampling of a mucosal tissue sample in order to conduct further studies with it. Thus, the nature of the damage is determined.
pH-metry of the esophagus is a study that is aimed at determining the acidity of gastric juice, as well as other content of the gastrointestinal tract. To do this, a special probe is inserted through the esophagus to draw fluid. In addition, for the procedure, it is necessary that the patient does not eat anything, and also took special medications. After a fence of a liquid spend, as in an esophagus, and in a stomach, and in an intestine.
Anthroduodenal manometry is a procedure that allows you to evaluate motor skills, as well as determine the pressure in the upper sections of the gastrointestinal tract. This study is conducted in several versions and techniques. It all depends on what you need to determine the gastroenterologist.
In the diagnosis of duodenitis, simultaneous studies of other digestive organs are also conducted to establish a more accurate diagnosis.