Can the digestive system be permanently damaged by a viral/bacterial infection?After suffering from a severe viral infection or bacterial infection of the digestive system, is it possible to suffer from permanent damage (e.g. nerve damage)? I suffer from chronic abdominal pain (no other digestive symptoms so not IBS, have ruled out allergies, coeliac disease, current infection etc) with no "organic" cause (have been examined inside), and have suffered for nearly 10 years since childhood. I remember having a particularly bad stomach "bug"/virus (not sure exactly what it was) lasting a month as a child, and my chronic pain probably started after this. Could a virus/bacterial infection cause permanent damage to the digestive tract that is not visible in internal exams?
I'm 19, and yeah I'm not sure if it was a viral/bact infection (aged 11), but it had a sudden onset and made me quite ill, I had no appetite for a month or more. I may have had problems prior to this too, but my memory is vague. I have heard of visceral hypersensitivity, perhaps that is the cause...? It's very frustrating and haven't had a medication it responds to.
Oh, and I know that it's not likely, but my doctor and I have ruled out all the "likely" stuff, so I'm looking at other possible causes now... I mean, how likely is it for someone to suffer abdominal pain nearly every day (or at least a few days of every week) for half their life with no organic cause?
Posted by gapsusie
It is possible but not likely
Posted by peachiepie
Virus have been know to mutate, so I would say it could have been the start of all your problems, but I'm not a doctor, it's just my "gut" feeling(smile).
Posted by krsrevol
as already stated it is possible but not at all likely... there are many things that could cause the pain but are not visible in internal exams. Another possibility is that what u had during childhood was not a virus/bacterial infection... What is your age?
Posted by sailor
Have you been tested for H. pylori and other bacterial overgrowths in the intestines?
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