Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding means that there is a loss of blood into the gastrointestinal tract. A lot of bleeding from the GI tract is dangerous, since it may result in a massive, hidden loss of blood with effect on the circulation. However, even small amounts of bleeding could lead to anemia. Once a person is aware of any related symptoms, he should visit a doctor immediately to check the origin of the bleeding.
Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refers to any kind of bleeding that has its origin in the gastrointestinal tract. A hidden loss of blood into the GI tract thereby results. It is often divided into 1) upper GI bleeding: The upper GI tract refers to the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine, and 2) lower GI bleeding: The lower GI tract includes much of the small intestine, large intestine or bowels, rectum and anus.
GI bleeding is not a disease itself, but a symptom of many diseases. Causes of gastrointestinal bleeding can include 1) anal fissure or hemorrhoids, 2) cancer of the stomach, small intestine or colon, 3) intestinal polyps, 4) bleeding diverticulum, 5) Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (colitis ulcerosa), 6) esophageal varices, as seen in liver diseases with hypertension of the portal vain 7) esophagitis, 8) gastric ulcers, 9) intussusception, 10) Mallory-Weiss tear, an esophageal injury due to vomiting 11) Meckel’s diverticulum, 12) radiation injury. Generally speaking, people with upper GI tract bleeding have symptoms such as bright red blood in vomit, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black or tarry stools (melaena), or dark blood mixed with stool. People with lower GI tract bleeding often have symptoms such as bloody diarrhea or stool mixed or coated with bright red blood. Sometimes, the blood in the stool is not noticed and symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue and paleness, are in the foreground.
Treatments of GI bleeding will depend on the causes. Once the underlying disease that causes the bleeding has been found, the treatment is aimed to treat the specific disease. To determine the origin of the bleeding and also for acute intervention, a gastroscopy or colonoscopy may be performed. According to the results of the test, the doctor will decide the next treatment steps.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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