Gastroenteritis is a short- term condition which results from infection and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms may consist of stomach ache and nausea among others. The causes of gastroenteritis include Viruses, bacteria,Bacterial toxins, parasites, some chemicals and certain drugs.
What is Gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis refers to inflammation and infection of the gut and is also known as the stomach flu. The usual signs are abdominal pain and gas, loose stools or diarrhoea and nausea or vomiting. In most instances, the condition clears up on its own in the first few days of its development.
The major risk of gastroenteritis is dehydration, though this would not occur if the volume of fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhoea is replaced. A person who is having severe gastroenteritis may require to be given fluids through an IV (a method of drip administration where the fluids are injected directly into the blood vessels). Some of the causes of this disease include virus, bacteria, bacterial toxins, parasites, certain chemicals, and some drugs.
WellHealthOrganic.com: Key Signs of Gastroenteritis!
WellHealthOrganic.com: Key Signs of Gastroenteritis- Gastroenteritis is characterised by several general and specific signs and symptoms that may set in, especially without much notice. It’s common to experience nausea, cramping, diarrhoea, and sometimes vomiting. This should be expected more so if the person is suffering from diarrhoea where many quick runs to the toilet are expected. Other symptoms tend to develop a little later on and include:
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Fever
- Belly pain
- Loss of appetite
Others include diarrhoea and vomiting. You also can be a victim of dehydration. Check for the symptoms of dehydration as they include brittle skin, dry check lips, dizziness and excessive thirst. See your doctor if any of these symptoms develop as they may be signs that your condition is worsening.
Causes of Gastroenteritis
An attack on your stomach or intestines by an invading immune system might result in gastroenteritis. In order to combat infections and heal damaged tissues, it releases inflammatory cells.
This is typically an acute, transient reaction to a transient threat or harm. After a brief period of time, it stops the inflammation. Persistent gastroenteritis is uncommon and lasts longer. There are many things that can cause gastroenteritis, including:
- Viruses: Norovirus, Calicivirus, Rotavirus, Astrovirus and Adenovirus.
- Bacteria: and such as the Campylobacter bacterium.
- Parasites: including Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium.
- Bacterial toxins: while the bacteria themselves are harmless it is their toxic products that are lethal in that they are capable of sprouting in the food chain. There are certain toxins that are secreted by some staphylococcal bacteria that cause gastroenteritis.
- Chemicals: for instance lead poisoning can cause gastroenteritis.
- Medicine: specific products like antibiotics, can lead to gastroenteritis in vulnerable persons.
Infectious Gastroenteritis
Infectious gastroenteritis are also caused by viruses, bacteria and parasitic organisms and can cause acute gastroenteritis. In any case, it is acquired through the uptake of the agent, commonly through taking food substances or beverages. Some of the common types of infectious gastroenteritis include: Some of the common types of infectious gastroenteritis include:
- Escherichia coli infection: Food poisoning is one of the main diseases that may affect those people, who travel to countries with low standards of hygiene. It occurs when one takes water to drink it and this water is polluted or by taking raw fruits and vegetables which were grown in polluted water.
- Campylobacter infection: they are seen in farm animals’ faeces (poo) and processed meat especially poultry. Transmission occurs by, for example, eating contaminated food and water; eating undercooked poultry; and not washing one’s hand after handling infected animals.
- Cryptosporidium infection: these are parasites commonly located in the intestines of people and animals. Infection is for instance gotten through swimming in water infested with the parasites and then accidentally having water get into the mouth or through contact with infected animals. An affected person can contaminate food, or objects that a susceptible person comes across, especially the index finger, if the affected individual did not wash hands after defecation.
- Giardiasis: A type of parasitic disease of the intestinal tract. Foods that cause infection include for instance taking water from a stream or tap and drinking it directly, touching infected animals, or changing a baby’s nappy that has traces of the bacteria and then failing to wash your hands.
- Salmonellosis: Bacteria that are present in the dung of animals. It is transmitted by consuming food that is contaminated or comes into contact with affected animals. An infected person can also spread the bacteria to other people or objects which are in close contact with the person or a contaminated surface without washing hands.
- Shigellosis: Bacteria that are found in human faeces. It will either be on another person’s hands, or by directly transferring from an infected persons hand to food or a table surface without washing the hands after using the toilet.
- Viral gastroenteritis: Transmission is through direct contact with an infected person, contact with droppings or vomiting, contaminated water or food, body contact with contaminated surfaces.
Diagnosis and Treatments of Gastroenteritis
Since different types of gastroenteritis require different therapies, it is critical to identify the cause. Among the diagnostic techniques are:
- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Blood tests
- Stool tests.
Gastroenteritis Treatments
Majority of individuals do not require special medications for management of the condition that is Gastroenteritis. You are likely to improve on your own after a few days. The main thing that can help to speed up the recovery process is to rest at home, keep hydrated and consume simple food only.
Keep Yourself Hydrated:
- Take as many clear fluids as possible. If you are nauseated, you should go for small, several sips at a time or take some ice chips.
- If you can, consume small portions of mild, easy to assimilate foods rich in electrolytes, including fruits’ juices, ice creams, soups, and plain salt crackers.
- Children can become dehydrated rather fast; hence, if a child has gastroenteritis, offer him/her a hydration solution including Pedialyte to drink on.
Gastroenteritis Medication
To help ease your symptoms, your doctor may recommend medicines such as:
- Antiemetic to help manage vomiting with which you are experiencing.
- Anti-diarrheal medications; unless you have been on antibiotics within the last 2 weeks, or you have bloody diarrhoea, slight bleeding in the stool which is not noticeable or diarrhoea accompanied by fever.
- Antibiotics are actually ineffective in the treatment of viral gastroenteritis. They are also rarely applied for bacterial gastroenteritis, as your case should improve within a few days in most of the situations. Nevertheless, certain group of bacteria does call for antibiotic prescription. Several examinations may be performed by your doctor to determine whether or not you should take antibiotics.
When the symptoms start to ease:
- Slowly transition from drinking water to consuming your normal diet.
- Begin with low fibre meals that are easily digestible: crackers, bananas, plain toast, white rice, and plain chicken without seasoning.
- It would be wise to give up dairy products, caffeine and alcohol until the full recovery from this illness.
How to Prevent Gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis is not always preventable, but there are certain factors that one can avoid to reduce one’s risk of getting it. So, while common gastrointestinal illness is not necessarily avoidable, it’s important to minimally lower our individual risk and collectively norms ways of preventing the spread of such sicknesses in our societies. For example
- Good hand washing: Proper hand washing is one of the most effective and least complicated means of avoiding the spread and contracting diseases. Washing with soap for not less than 20 seconds helps wash off the germs and toxins in the hands that are likely to be transferred to the mouth or any other person.
- Good cleaning: Cleaning should be done thoroughly especially in places such as schools, day care centres, nursing facilities for the elderly, and hospitals that are frequently used by many people daily. Sanitising helps in washing off the germs that are normally found on uncovered objects and articles.
- Safe food handling: Many foods can become contaminated before they’re harvested, stored, prepared and cooked. When preparing food, make sure to exercise proper hygiene standards, such as washing your hands before and after touching food. Prepare foods appropriately to eliminate potential food borne-illnesses and serve foods at the proper temperature.
- Safe travels: The worst is that it becomes relatively very easy to get food poisoning while on a foreign trip. You may get into contact with some microorganisms there that are not found in your native place, this is known as traveller’s diarrhoea. The best way to avoid getting ill is to avoid unprocessed fruits and vegetables, onions and garlic, rice, pasta, and bread and instead go for prepared, peeled or tins or bottled.
- Safe substance use: Take drugs or use them when it is necessary in the right dosage and avoid over using them. If you always find that the medications are not as effective as prescribed, or you are using substances to treat your conditions, seek the services of a health care provider for better management.
Take Away
Everyone is prone to getting gastroenteritis, however, no one looks forward to going through it. If it gets to the stage where you need to weather the storm, do so and be careful as it usually lasts for 24 to 48 hours.
To have such symptoms that are severe and frequent as diarrhoea and vomiting may be a bit scary. This can make one feel that something is wrong. But that indicates that your body is already managing it. On the flip side, those subjective signs are often a sign that your body is already addressing it.
Despite that, the percentage of people in need of medications or who may find medications useful remains low. Most conditions have no cure, and this can include the various infections that are reported to occur. But a few do, and a few might require medication to resolve. If you have had gastroenteritis and it is not subsiding, inform a doctor.
Gastroenteritis has shown not to be life-threatening but if you’re immunocompromised or are caring for someone with a weaker immunity, feel free to consult your healthcare provider during this illness and update them on how you are.