Internal medicine is a branch of specialized medicine that deals with general adult diseases and is concerned with their treatment. Turkey is distinguished by the presence of the best clinics and hospitals that receive complex cases from various branches of internal medicine under the supervision of an elite group of doctors who care about the patient’s needs throughout the treatment period, Follow us and read to learn about the internal diseases treatment in Turkey in both the digestive and endocrine systems.

Many internal medicine diseases are very complex and have hidden symptoms, which is why patients undergo extensive diagnostic tests as reaching the correct diagnosis requires a comprehensive and accurate medical history in addition to a physical examination.

Once completed, the doctor recommends specific tests which may include:

• Blood test
• Ultrasound
• Colonoscopy examinations of the upper or lower digestive tract

In more complex cases, the doctor requests more advanced tests such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.

Follow us to learn about the treatment of internal diseases in Turkey in both the digestive and endocrine systems:

Treatment of digestive and liver diseases

Crohn’s disease

Mainly affects the small intestine and colon, it may cause thickening of the intestinal wall leading to narrowing of the lumen and obstruction of the intestinal tract.

90% of Crohn’s patients suffer from recurrent and advanced symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss.

The most commonly used medications to treat Crohn’s disease are sulfasalazine, prednisolone, metronidazole, azathioprine and mesalamsin.

If the patient does not respond to oral medications, the doctor resorts to surgical treatment that alleviates the chronic symptoms of the disease.

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disorder that affects the inner lining of the large intestine, most often starting in the lower colon and then spreading to the entire colon.

The presence of blood in the stool is one of the most common and distinctive symptoms of the disease.

It is diagnosed, as in Crohn’s disease, after a comprehensive physical examination, endoscopy, and barium enema.

Patients with mild to severe ulcerative colitis are initially treated with sulfasalazine, and despite new treatments, approximately a quarter of patients will need surgery.

Irritable bowel syndrome

It is known as a common functional disorder in which people suffer from abnormal patterns of colon movement, as it reacts exaggeratedly to stimuli such as stress or eating foods rich in fats or gas.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) suffer from alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea in addition to abdominal pain and cramps.

There is no standard way to treat irritable bowel syndrome, as treatment depends on the severity and nature of the symptoms and may range from changing lifestyle and diet to antidepressants and psychotherapy.

Viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis consists of five different diseases caused by five viruses (A, B, C, D, E) that may all lead to acute hepatitis, and treatment varies from one type to another.

Treatment of stomach and pancreatic diseases

Gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux is a digestive disorder caused by a malfunction of the lower sphincter muscle, as stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and chest pain.

Treatment of reflux includes several factors, including modifying the patient’s lifestyle and taking medications such as antacids, histamine receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors.

If conservative treatment fails, surgery can be resorted to, which aims to strengthen the esophageal sphincter muscle.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis causes swelling and pain for the patient that may spread from the stomach to the back, and is divided into two types:

• Acute pancreatitis: It is a temporary condition of the disease that can be treated with rest and intravenous nutrition with pain relief.
• Chronic pancreatitis: It is very important in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis to eat low-fat meals, enzymes that aid digestion, and nutritional supplements to replace vitamins and minerals. The doctor may resort to surgery to find the cause of pancreatic obstruction, such as gallstones, to remove them.

Treatment of thyroid and endocrine diseases

Endocrine disorders are often caused by a hormonal imbalance that causes the production of an excess or small amount of hormones, or as a result of the formation of nodules or tumors in the endocrine system.

Treatment can be done primarily by removing the cause or replacing the missing hormones orally.

There are two main types of thyroid disease:

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism causes fatigue, weight gain, decreased heart rate, and increased body coldness. Conditions that can cause hypothyroidism include:

• Hashimoto’s disease
• Iodine deficiency
• Congenital hypothyroidism

The main treatment option for hypothyroidism is taking thyroid hormone replacement medications such as levothyroxine

Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms include increased heart rate, body temperature, unexplained weight loss, and difficulty sleeping. It is caused by the following conditions:

• Graves’ disease
• Thyroid nodules
• Hyperiodism

Treatment options for hyperthyroidism include:

• Antithyroid medications such as methimazole and propylthiouracil
• Radioactive iodine therapy
• Surgery; the patient then needs to replace oral thyroid hormones for life.

Treatment of infectious and viral diseases

Viral infections cause a range of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Doctors base their diagnosis after a physical examination on blood tests and cultures.

Viruses infect different parts of the body:

• Digestive system: such as rotavirus and norovirus
• Nervous system: such as some viruses that infect the brain and spinal cord, causing meningitis.
• Liver: causing viral hepatitis
• Respiratory system: Corona viruses
• Skin: such as chickenpox
• Placenta and fetus: such as rubella virus and cytomegalovirus

Treatment of viral infections includes treating and alleviating the accompanying symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea and runny nose, and the other part of the treatment includes taking antiviral medications such as enterofen used to treat chronic hepatitis.

It is very important to know that antibiotics are not useful in treating viral infections.

Comprehensive care for medical conditions and regular follow-up

After completing any type of internal diseases treatment in Turkey, patients often have regular follow-up appointments with the specialist doctor or care team to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and monitor any possible complications depending on the severity and seriousness of the disease.

During the sessions, the patient is physically examined with blood tests or radiological tests to assess the body’s response.

Care after internal diseases treatment in Turkey also includes monitoring any persistent symptoms or side effects that the patient may experience.

The most important internal surgeries in Turkey

Many internal diseases have a treatment plan that includes surgery to remove the cause or in case conservative treatment fails. These surgeries include:

• Nissen surgery
• Gallstone removal
• Adenoma removal
• Colon tumor removal
• Whipple surgery
• Liver transplantation

Approximate financial cost of internal diseases treatment in Turkey

The cost of internal diseases treatment in Turkey ranges around $100 for the initial examination, and depends on the type of treatment, the required duration of treatment, and the patient’s condition.

These are very competitive prices, especially with the distinguished medical development in hospitals and the patient’s consultation with the most skilled doctors specializing in internal diseases treatment in Turkey.