Symptoms Of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome

Mallory-Weiss syndrome describes a laceration or tear of the mucous membrane. It most commonly occurs in the gastroesophageal junction, which is where the stomach and esophagus connect. A prolonged bout of severe vomiting is the most common cause of Mallory-Weiss syndrome, which, in turn, can cause severe bleeding. Mallory-Weiss syndrome occurs in one to fifteen percent of bleeding episodes in the gastrointestinal tract. It is most common in men between forty and sixty years old. Mallory-Weiss syndrome can sometimes occur as a complication of chemotherapy, as well as by food poisoning and other conditions that cause severe retching and vomiting. Uncover the symptoms of Mallory-Weiss syndrome now.

Hematemesis

Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood, and in Mallory-Weiss syndrome, the blood patients vomit is often dark, clotted and resembles coffee grounds. If the blood is fresh, however, it will be red. If the patient loses a lot of blood, they can go into shock. Fortunately, the bleeding stops on its own in about eighty to ninety percent of cases, and most of the mucous membrane tears also heal on their own within seven to ten days. The doctor will often diagnose Mallory-Weiss syndrome if the hematemesis has been preceded by at least one bout of non-bloody vomiting.

If the doctor suspects a patient has Mallory-Weiss syndrome, they may perform an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. After giving the patient a painkiller and sedative, the doctor will maneuver an endoscope down their esophagus to their stomach. The endoscope is a flexible tube with a camera attached, and it will enable doctors to examine the patient’s gastrointestinal tract and locate the tear. Doctors may also order a complete blood count to determine the number of red blood cells and thus determine the severity of the blood loss.

Learn more about the signs of Mallory-Weiss syndrome now.

Pain In The Abdomen

Pain in the abdomen is one of the more common symptoms of Mallory-Weiss syndrome. In some cases, the patient may develop pain in their back or lower chest. The back or abdominal pain generally occurs along with the vomiting of blood. The blood, in turn, comes from a tear that involves blood vessels lying under the mucous membrane.

Mallory-Weiss syndrome doesn’t often recur. Unfortunately, if the patient had an episode with heavy bleeding, they are more likely to have a subsequent episode than somebody who experienced only slight or moderate bleeding. Severe vomiting or coughing and strenuous physical activities like heavy lifting also increase the risk of a recurrence.

Continue reading to understand more symptoms of Mallory-Weiss syndrome.

Involuntary Retching

Another common symptom is involuntary retching, which is the strong urge to vomit. It is typically the first symptom of Mallory-Weiss syndrome to develop. The patient will then start to vomit up blood.

Most cases of Mallory-Weiss syndrome are self-limiting, which means they clear up on their own. If the patient does need treatment, the doctor will generally start by treating blood loss with intravenous fluids and transfusions. They may also give the patient antiemetic medications to stop the retching and vomiting. After the patient has stabilized, the doctor will perform tests to locate the tear and determine if it is still bleeding.

Reveal the next Mallory-Weiss syndrome warning sign now.

Black Or Bloody Stools

Black or bloody stool is another common symptom, and in many cases, the stools can be melenic, or as black as tar. If the patient is bleeding heavily, however, the blood in the stools will be red. Since heavy blood loss can be life-threatening, the patient should get emergency care if they find a lot of red blood in their stools.

Black stools, which are sometimes called melena, can indicate injuries in the gastrointestinal tract. The dark color can also be caused by eating foods with dark colors, like blueberries. Some medications, like iron supplements or medicines containing bismuth, can also cause stools to turn black. Bloody stools can become tar-like as they move down the digestive tract and the blood mixes with digestive acids.

Understand more about how to spot Mallory-Weiss syndrome now.

Conditions That Produce Similar Symptoms

There are a variety of conditions that produce similar symptoms, including peptic ulcers, Boerhaave’s syndrome, chronic erosive gastritis, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and perforation of the esophagus.

Peptic ulcers are unfortunately common, and they are sores that develop within the gastrointestinal tract. There are three main types: duodenal, esophageal, and gastric. Duodenal ulcers develop in the duodenum or upper part of the small intestine, while gastric ulcers form in the stomach. Common causes of peptic ulcers include erosion by stomach acids or inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori.

Boerhaave’s syndrome is a condition in which severe vomiting causes the esophagus to rupture. In chronic erosive gastritis, inflammation of the stomach lining results in the development of lesions that resemble ulcers. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare condition in which the patient develops chronic ulcers caused by small tumors that create too much stomach acid.