[Diseases of the visible mucosa]

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...

Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...

Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the mucus...

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) involves breaks in the gastrointestinal tract's mucosal lining, primarily in the stomach and duodenum, with less frequent occurrences in the lower esophagus or near the pylorus.Ulcers can be acute or chronic. Acute ulcers are short-lived with minimal inflammation and heal quickly after the irritant is removed. Chronic ulcers persist, may recur, and often cause scarring due to ongoing tissue damage. Superficial erosions affect only the mucosal layer and are called...

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is characterized by mucosal excavation in the esophagus, stomach, pylorus, or duodenum. It can manifest as acute or chronic based on the extent and duration of mucosal involvement.
An acute ulcer, marked by superficial erosion and minimal inflammation, swiftly resolves upon identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In contrast, a chronic ulcer persists, potentially eroding through the muscular wall and forming fibrous tissue.
Peptic ulcers can also be...

The gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to various disorders. If the lower esophageal sphincter is damaged, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the lining. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (known as heartburn) and may cause chest pain and difficulty swallowing. In the stomach, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, chronic alcohol consumption, bacterial infections such as Helicobacter...