Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that studies disorders of the digestive system. As with other diseases, timely diagnosis of gastroenterological and hepatological conditions is essential for effective treatment. Therefore, it is important to recognize the main symptoms, which include:
Abdominal pain of any kind
Hunger-related or nighttime pain in the stomach area
Heartburn, belching, difficulty swallowing, or pain during swallowing
Unpleasant breath, sour or bitter taste in the mouth
Nausea, vomiting
Any kind of diarrhea
Constipation
Persistent bloating
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Unidentified skin rashes
When should you consult a hepatologist?
General weakness or easy fatigue
Pain or discomfort in the upper right abdominal area
Yellowing of the skin or eyes (sclera)
Dark urine
Itching anywhere on the body
Unexplained skin rashes
Treatment methods include:
Gastroscopy with biopsy and morphological examination
Colonoscopy with biopsy and morphological examination
Abdominal ultrasound with Doppler imaging
Liver elastography (Fibroscan)
Laboratory tests:
Routine blood work: CBC, electrolytes, iron, ferritin, folic acid, C-reactive protein, and more (link to laboratory section)
Helicobacter pylori serology
Food intolerance test (covering 80 or 140 food items) (link required)
Viral hepatitis markers
Epstein–Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus serology
Liver function tests
Lipid profile
Vitamin B12
Fecal calprotectin
Lactose intolerance testing
Gluten intolerance testing
Liver autoantibody panel