An anal fistula is a small channel that can develop between the end of the bowel and the skin near the anus. An anal fistula can cause bleeding and discharge when passing stools - and can be painful. An anal fistula can occur after surgery to drain an anal abscess. In...

An anal fissure is a small tear or crack in the lining of the anus. It may occur when passing large or hard stools, straining during childbirth, or experiencing bouts of diarrhoea. An anal fissure can cause sharp pain and bleeding during and after bowel movements. It...

Haemorrhoids are swollen veins located around the anus or in the lower rectum. About 50 percent of adults experienced the symptoms of haemorrhoids by the age of 50. Haemorrhoids can either be internal or external. Internal haemorrhoids develop within the anus or...

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a serious sign of trouble within your digestive tract. Your digestive tract consists of the following organs: Oesophagus Stomach Small intestine (including the duodenum) Large intestine or colon Rectum Anus GI bleeding can occur in...

What is Intestinal Obstruction? Digested food particles must travel through 25 feet of intestines or more before new wastes enter your body. These wastes are constantly in motion; however, an intestinal obstruction can block the passage of fluid or digested food. An...

Acute pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas, located in the upper left side of your abdomen, behind the stomach and near the small intestine. It produces and distributes insulin, digestive enzymes and other necessary hormones. There are direct and...

Diverticula are bulging sacs or small blisters that appear in the lining of your large intestine, or colon. This condition is called diverticulosis when the sacs first appear but aren’t yet inflamed or infected. When these sacs get acutely infected or inflamed, it’s...

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a pouch-shaped organ connected to the large intestine. If you don’t get treatment for it, the appendix can rupture, which can be life-threatening. When there’s an obstruction in the appendix, bacteria can multiply...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine (colon). Irritable bowel syndrome commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation. IBS is a chronic condition that you will need to manage long...

Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, lower oesophagus, or small intestine. The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is burning abdominal pain that extends from the navel to the chest. Untreated ulcers can become worse over time and lead...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the oesophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This can irritate the oesophagus and cause heartburn and other symptoms. Causes When you...

A goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland. Some people with a goitre may have an underactive or overactive thyroid. This means that they make too much or too little thyroid hormone. However, there are various types and causes of goitre and treatment depends on the cause....

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells which eventually form into tumours. A tumour can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumours are not considered cancerous. Malignant tumours are cancerous....

What is cancer of the colon and rectum? Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last several inches of the colon. Together, they're often referred to as colorectal cancers. Most...

What are the symptoms of gallstones? You may not experience any symptoms if you have gallstones. According to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), 80 percent of people who have gallstones don’t have any pain at all. These are called “silent” gallstones....

What Is an Umbilical Hernia? The umbilical cord connects a mother and her foetus while in the womb. Babies’ umbilical cords pass through a small opening in their stomach muscles. In most cases, the hole closes soon after birth. An umbilical hernia occurs when the...

What Is an Inguinal Hernia? An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin area when fatty or intestinal tissues push through the inguinal canal which is at the base of the abdomen. In men, the testes usually descend through this canal shortly before birth. In women, the...