Related articles: Gastroenteritis
Definition
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.
In most cases, gastroenteritis recognizes an infectious origin, although the inflammatory process may also occur following the ingestion of drugs, toxins (eg heavy metals), various plants or fungi.
Infectious gastroenteritis can be caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites transmitted through the consumption of infected water and food or carried by droplets of saliva, emitted into the air by sick people while coughing, sneezing or simply talking. The most commonly implicated viruses are Rotavirus, Calicivirus (especially Norovirus), Astrovirus and enteric adenovirus. However, in immunocompromised patients, other viruses (eg Enteroviruses) can cause gastroenteritis.
Bacterial gastroenteritis is less common than viral and can be determined by various mechanisms. Some bacteria (eg Vibrio cholerae and enterotoxigenic E. coli strains) adhere to the intestinal mucosa and produce enterotoxins; others (eg Staphylococcus aureus ) produce an exotoxin that is ingested with contaminated food.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Anorexia
- Asthenia
- Colic
- Conati
- Abdominal cramps
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Dysentery
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle pains
- haematochezia
- Temperature
- Abdominal swelling
- Abdominal gurgling
- Hypotension
- Iridodonesi
- Headache
- marasma
- Functional Meteorism
- Mucorrea
- Nausea
- Nausea and vomiting in the early stages of pregnancy
- Weight loss
- thrombocytopenia
- rettorragia
- Water retention
- Blood from the anno
- Blood in the stool
- Foam in urine
- Cold sensation
- Tachycardia
- He retched
Further indications
Gastroenteritis is responsible for annoying symptoms, but which is usually self-limiting and disappears within a few days. Onset is generally sudden, with anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (faeces may or may not contain blood and mucus). At abdominal level, cramps and borborigmi pains may be present, even without diarrhea (an important difference compared to the paralytic ileus). Malaise, fatigue and physical weakness may occur. Furthermore, persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause fluid and electrolyte leakage, with hypotension and tachycardia. Dehydration can be serious for children, the elderly and those who are debilitated or with serious concomitant illnesses.
In viral infections, the most frequent symptom is watery diarrhea (dysentery); patients may also complain of fever, headache and muscle pain. The enteroinvasive bacteria (eg Shigella and Salmonella ) are more likely to cause fever and bloody diarrhea; those that produce an exotoxin (eg S. aureus ) generally cause watery diarrhea. Parasitic infections, on the other hand, typically cause subacute or chronic diarrhea.
The diagnosis is based on the general clinical evaluation and on stool culture. Treatment is symptomatic, although some parasitic and bacterial infections require specific therapy.
