Gastroenteritis:
What is gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (the pathway responsible for digestion that includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines). Gastroenteritis is also sometimes referred to as "stomach flu," even though it is not related to influenza.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis:
The primary symptom of gastroenteritis is diarrhea. When the colon (large intestine) becomes infected during gastroenteritis, it loses its ability to retain fluids, which causes the person’s feces to become watery. Other symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Poor feeding (in infants)
- Unintentional weight loss (may be a sign of dehydration)
- Excessive sweating
- Clammy skin
- Muscle pain or joint stiffness
- Incontinence (loss of stool control)
Because of the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, people who have gastroenteritis can become dehydrated very quickly. It is very important to watch for signs of dehydration, which may include:
- Extreme thirst
- Urine that is darker in color
- Dry skin
- Dry mouth
- Sunken cheeks or eyes
- In infants, diapers that remain dry for more than 4-6 hours
Causes of gastroenteritis:
Gastroenteritis can be caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections. Viral gastroenteritis is highly contagious and is responsible for the majority of outbreaks in developed countries.
Common routes of infection include:
- Food (especially seafood)
- Contaminated water
- Contact with an infected person
- Unwashed hands
- Dirty utensils
- In less developed countries, gastroenteritis is more often spread through contaminated food or water.
Diagnosis:
The physician will take a medical history to make sure that nothing else is causing the symptoms. Also, the doctor may perform a rectal or abdominal examination to eliminate the possibilities of inflammatory bowel diseases and pelvic abscesses. A stool culture (a laboratory test that will identify bacteria and other organisms from a sample of feces) can be used to determine the specific virus or germ that is causing gastroenteritis.
Other diseases that may cause diarrhea and vomiting include: pneumonia, septicemia, urinary tract infection, as well as meningitis. Additionally, conditions that require surgery, such as appendicitis (the inflammation of the appendix), intussusception (a condition in which the intestine folds into itself, causing blockage) and Hirschsprung’s disease (a condition where nerve cells in the intestinal walls do not develop properly) can cause symptoms similar to gastroenteritis.
Treatment & Prevention options:
Treatment: The body can typically fight the disease on its own. The most important factor when treating gastroenteritis is the replacement of fluids and electrolytes that are lost because of the diarrhea and vomiting. Foods that contain electrolytes and complex carbohydrates, such as potatoes, lean meats (such as chicken), and whole grains can help replace the lost nutrients. Antibiotics are not typically effective if the cause of gastroenteritis is a viral infection. Doctors usually do not recommend antidiarrheal medications for gastroenteritis because they tend to prolong infection, especially in children.
Prevention: There are several steps that you can take to reduce your risk of getting gastroenteritis, including:
- Washing your hands frequently, especially after going to the bathroom and when you are working with food;
- Cleaning and disinfecting kitchen surfaces, especially when working with raw meat or eggs;
- Keeping raw meat, eggs, and poultry away from foods that are eaten raw
- Drinking bottled water and avoiding ice cubes when traveling
Related information:
| University of Missouri Health Care | This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. |
