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Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
About me
After graduating in 2006, I worked in the infectious disease department of a top-tier hospital, and later switched to the gastroenterology department where I am currently.
Proficient in diseases
Hepatitis, gastritis, enteritis, viral hepatitis, pancreatitis and other common internal medicine diseases and infectious diseases.
Voices
Is dizziness and nausea a symptom of AIDS?
Symptoms such as dizziness and nausea are not directly related to AIDS, and AIDS is generally not considered in such cases. Instead, conditions like insufficient blood supply to the neck or brain, which might cause dizziness and nausea, are considered. The diagnosis of AIDS must rely on laboratory tests because AIDS is an autoimmune deficiency disease, and various symptoms may occur. The most common and likely symptoms of AIDS are prolonged fever and diarrhea, but these symptoms cannot be used as the basis for diagnosis; they are only auxiliary. Therefore, to confirm AIDS, one must undergo laboratory testing at an accredited hospital.
What department should I go to for gastroenteritis?
Gastritis and gastroenteritis are commonly treated in the gastroenterology department in a clinical setting, as this department is well-equipped to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases and possesses significant clinical experience. In smaller hospitals or those without a gastroenterology department, it’s typical to visit the internal medicine department instead. However, in formal hospitals, gastroenterology is the preferred choice; if unavailable, then internal medicine should be considered. Additionally, it is essential to be fasting for examinations of gastritis and gastroenteritis, as blood tests and ultrasound scans, both requiring fasting, are needed.
Is gastroenteritis contagious?
Whether gastroenteritis is contagious depends on the cause of the inflammation. For example, if a person develops abdominal pain and diarrhea from getting cold, this type of gastroenteritis, caused by chilling, is not contagious, so it will not spread from person to person. However, if the gastroenteritis is caused by bacterial dysentery (commonly known as bacillary dysentery), it can be spread through food. Therefore, whether gastroenteritis is contagious depends on the infecting pathogen and the cause; it cannot be generalized.
Does gastritis require infusion?
In clinical practice, there are many patients with chronic gastritis. If stomach pain is observed and gastritis is suspected, this condition is mostly treated with oral medication because gastritis itself is a common disease. Infusion therapy is used for those whose diets are poor and who find it difficult to eat; this impacts their ability to take medication orally, and such individuals might consider infusion therapy. However, it is still recommended to take medication orally whenever possible. Additionally, if gastritis is accompanied by mucosal erosion or severe ulcers, intravenous infusion may be considered, switching to oral medication after a few days. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
What department should I go to for acute gastroenteritis?
Symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever may indicate acute gastroenteritis. It is recommended to register for the Department of Gastroenterology, as acute gastroenteritis is primarily treated within this specialty. However, if the hospital does not have a Department of Gastroenterology, you can register for the Department of Internal Medicine for further examination and treatment. But if a large number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and pus cells are found in the stool, it is likely not acute gastroenteritis but bacterial dysentery, and it is advisable to register with the Department of Infectious Diseases or proceed to an infectious disease hospital for formal treatment.
How to check for pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis can cause acute abdominal pain, along with symptoms of nausea and vomiting, and severe cases can lead to hypotensive shock. In laboratory tests, the diagnosis is generally made by assessing serum or urine amylase levels. An amylase level that exceeds three times the normal value can diagnose pancreatitis. Additionally, ultrasound and CT scans can reveal an enlarged or exuding pancreas, and the presence of a small amount of fat necrosis around the pancreas can be diagnosed as pancreatitis. The onset time of serum amylase in pancreatitis varies; typically, serum amylase begins to increase between 6 and 12 hours and starts to decline after 48 hours, and can be detected within 3 to 5 days. Lipase levels typically start to rise between 24 to 72 hours and remain elevated longer, up to 7 to 10 days. Thus, lipase has diagnostic value for later stages of pancreatitis and tends to have higher specificity compared to amylase.
Can alcoholic liver cirrhosis be cured?
Cirrhosis caused by alcohol can be treated clinically. The first and foremost treatment for alcoholic cirrhosis is abstinence from alcohol. If one cannot abstain, no treatment will achieve the desired effect or be of much use. Once cirrhosis has developed, the condition cannot be reversed; it can only be managed with medications to slow the progression of the cirrhosis and reduce the occurrence of complications. If financial circumstances allow, a liver transplant can be considered for treatment. Naturally, alcoholic cirrhosis can also be treated with a liver transplant. Thus, alcoholic cirrhosis is a treatable condition.
What should I do if I have indigestion?
In real life, many people experience symptoms of indigestion after eating, especially those who have had their gallbladder removed or those who are bedridden due to trauma. How should this situation be handled? In clinical practice, medications can be used for treatment. In terms of medication selection, probiotics for the intestines can be utilized along with digestive enzymes. It is recommended to use medicinal probiotics rather than purchasing health supplements. Additionally, people who are bedridden for a long time may have insufficient gastrointestinal motility, so medications that enhance gastrointestinal motility, such as Itopride tablets, should be used. Medication is one aspect; diet also needs attention. It is important to consume easily digestible foods and adequately supplement dietary fiber, which means eating plenty of vegetables and easily digestible foods. (Please use medications under the guidance of a clinical doctor and based on specific conditions)
Can a gastroscopy detect Helicobacter pylori?
Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacterium that can easily infect and cause chronic gastritis, and it even has the potential to lead to cancer. Therefore, patients with Helicobacter pylori generally require formal treatment. In terms of diagnostics, Helicobacter pylori can be detected through a gastroscopy, but the bacteria cannot be detected by gastroscopy alone; the test for Helicobacter pylori is performed under the scope. However, the current main method for testing Helicobacter pylori is through a breath test, since undergoing a gastroscopy just to test for the bacteria can be quite uncomfortable. Moreover, the accuracy of the breath test is relatively high, so currently, Helicobacter pylori is generally detected via breath testing rather than gastroscopy.
Is it okay not to remove the spleen for cirrhosis with splenomegaly?
Once cirrhosis patients are found to have splenic hyperfunction, in order to reduce the splenic hyperfunction and its phagocytic destruction of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, the spleen must be dealt with. Traditionally, the treatment plan could involve surgically removing the spleen, also known as splenectomy. However, current treatment plans generally involve interventional methods. After multiple interventional embolizations, the spleen undergoes aseptic necrosis and is absorbed, thus improving the condition of splenic hyperfunction. Therefore, now in cases of cirrhosis with splenic hyperfunction, it is possible to treat without removing the spleen, using interventional methods instead.