There is a whole group of diseases, which are based on alimentary origin. This pathology has a chronic course, which occurs due to the fact that the diet is disturbed, or due to excessive or insufficient intake of energy and nutrients in the body. In addition, their absorption may be impaired. Alimentary diseases can occur for a variety of reasons and are exogenous or endogenous.
Causes
Alimentary diseases associated with food can develop primary or secondary. In the first case, the etiology is associated with a lack or excess of nutrition.
The occurrence of secondary nutritional diseases is due to the presence of chronic pathology of the internal organs, which is a cause of malabsorption of nutrients. A similar situation can be observed with oncology, surgery on the digestive tract. The cause may be tuberculosis and mental disorders.
At the suggestion of WHO experts, pathological conditions associated with malnutrition should also be included here.
Classification
All such cases are related to nutritional-related diseases. The basis lies in the use of foods with various impurities. These may be representatives of the microbial flora and their metabolic products. This also includes products seeded with helminths and their eggs.
Two groups of similar pathological conditions are distinguished:
- Pathology, the appearance of which is caused only by an alimentary path. This is the only possible way when such diseases occur.
- Individual diseases with various transmission routes, including those in which an alimentary factor is present.
Characterization of nutritional diseases
The diseases included in the first group include food poisoning, parasitic infestations. We are talking about biohelminthiasis. For the occurrence of food poisoning, it is necessary to use a food product that is abundantly seeded with microbial flora or microbial metabolism substances.
As an example of biohelminthiasis, tenioses can be cited, the cause of which is bovine or pork tapeworm. Helminths enter animals along with contaminated feed. But in order for a sexually mature individual to develop and become pathogenic for humans, a helminth must go through a development cycle in a particular animal. In this case, the pig and cattle serve as intermediate hosts. Helminths come to a person along with finnous meat.
The second group includes various intestinal infections. Helminthiases associated with the contact-domestic mechanism of infection, as well as transmitted through water and soil, can also be attributed to this. This group includes diseases that enter the body along with xenobiotics (radionuclides, salts of heavy metals).
The relationship between nutrition and disease
Food consumption is a social factor, since it is associated with the interests of the entire population of the globe. Nutrition is an alimentary factor. The work of the organism as a whole depends on it. This is especially true for the modern world. Today, the environment is so polluted that often in connection with this there are problems in nutrition.
This problem has a dual aspect. At first glance, the negative attention of unfavorable ecology is weakening. But at the same time, the products themselves can be quite contaminated. The relevance also lies in the fact that a huge number of the world's population is simply starving. In Africa alone, there are nearly 150 million such people. Meanwhile, nutrition is the most important indicator of health:
- the birth rate and life expectancy depend on it;
- it affects health and physical development;
- the nature of nutrition determines the degree of human performance;
- morbidity and mortality depend on the composition of the diet.
A certain incidence is correlated with nutrition. Atherosclerosis and coronary insufficiency, hypertension, a whole bunch of digestive tract pathologies develop very early. It is proved that if regimen moments in nutrition are violated, oncology arises. Excess food leads to obesity, according to ICD-10, the disease code is E66.0.
There is a whole group of pathologies arising from a lack of nutrition. This is usually a condition such as protein deficiency. One of its options is nutritional insanity (alimentary dystrophy). A fairly serious pathology is kwashiorkor.
Protein deficiency
If we turn to the literature, the most widespread coverage is associated with protein deficiency. Symptoms and syndromes appear due to a lack of protein. Most often, infants and young children suffer from this. Alimentary insanity suggests muscle atrophy. Subcutaneous fat is weak or absent. Body weight is low. Often, the disease proceeds against the general background of infection.
A serious form of pathology is kwashiorkor. This form of severe protein-energy deficiency is characterized by growth retardation, severe swelling and muscle atrophy. The color of the hair changes, the liver increases in size. The condition can be complicated by infection, in which there is an increase in protein breakdown.
In African countries malnutrition syndromes occur in any form. But quite often, the disease occurs in developing countries. This circumstance is facilitated by urbanization and the deteriorating living conditions of certain segments of the population. So, insanity is found in densely populated cities with an abundance of slums. Kwashiorkor is most characteristic of people whose villages are villages. The most characteristic disease for children under two years of age. After four years, the children's contingent is less likely to suffer from this pathology. But individual manifestations of the disease can occur at an older age. There is a slow and incomplete recovery of all functions and there is a long delay in mental development.
Endemic goiter
Another type of pathology is associated with endemic goiter. It develops due to the fact that iodine does not enter the body enough. This disease is endemic in nature and occurs where there is a natural iodine deficiency.
There are a number of products with the use of which the manifestations of goiter are exacerbated. Such substances are found in cabbage. The disease can be observed among people living in the mountainous regions of India. But the disease also occurs on the territory of our country. For example, the Saratov region is considered an endemic area. For prevention, iodized salt is used.
Anemia of nutritional origin
In anemia, the blood picture is characterized by a low hemoglobin content. It develops because, together with products, the body does not receive enough iron. Prevention is the use of foods rich in iron. These include raw liver, beef, lettuce, spinach.
This group also includes vitamin deficiency. It is associated with the fact that vitamins enter the body in deficiency or their absorption in the intestine is disturbed. The symptomatology of diseases is determined by the lack of which particular vitamin there is.
Known pathologies belong to the group of these: rickets and obesity, according to ICD-10, defined as serious diseases. The first is due to a lack of calcium. Obesity can occur when an individual’s diet is abundant in food.
Treatment
First of all, treatment begins with the normalization of nutrition, the regimen of which is a doctor, depending on the severity. The patient is provided with complete peace and relaxation, he is protected from stressful situations. Food begins in fractional portions, it is frequent. The patient is forbidden to contact with other patients. Glucose and other injections are prescribed to replenish the necessary substances and fluids in the body. Remember, if dystrophy is diagnosed, only a doctor can establish the causes and treatment of the disease.
If the disease is infectious, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. If the patient is starving due to weight loss, then an additional consultation with a psychologist is necessary.
In case of overnutrition syndrome, specialist advice and appropriate treatment are also required.
Summary
A similar pathology is represented by serious diseases that are associated with the nutritional factor. They arise and develop for many reasons, as a result of the action of a large number of factors. The decisive role in the prevention of diseases is given to preventive measures.
A balanced diet rich in a large number of minerals, proteins and vitamins is the main prevention and guarantee of health. If a person is starving for reasons beyond his control (for example, disaster, war, natural disasters), then everything possible must be done to leave the dangerous place. But if this is not possible, then you should try to eat nuts, seeds, and beans. In distress, it is not always possible to eat protein, but in legumes and seeds it is contained in sufficient quantities. Be healthy!