Gastroenteritis

About Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis primarily refers to a viral or bacterial infection of the lining of your digestive system (your stomach and your intestines). Gastroenteritis can be, however, caused even due to a chemical allergy, reaction to medication and food, fungi and parasite infection. Your body's immune system reacts to these unwanted guests by causing inflammation and irritation in your stomach and intestines. 

Viral Gastroenteritis is also called Stomach Flu which is not the same as the Influenza Flu (upper respiratory tract infection). Norovirus, Adenovirus, Calicivirus, Sapovirus, Rotavirus and Astrovirus are some virus types that can cause Gastroenteritis and Bacteria like Escherichia coli and Salmonella can also cause Stomach Flu, rarely though. While Campylobacter, Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), Staphylococci (Staph) and Shigella can cause Bacterial Gastroenteritis, Parasite Gastroenteritis is caused by organisms like Giardia, Cyclosporiasis, Amebiasis and Cryptosporidium. Fungal Gastroenteritis is caused by fungal infections like Candidiasis, and Aspergillosis. Chemical Gastroenteritis happens due to metal poisoning, plant toxins, alcoholism, and even chemotherapy drugs. Gastroenteritis - caused by viruses, bacteria, chemicals, parasites, in the food / water that you consume - is also termed as food poisoning.

Gastroenteritis: Causes & Prevention

Gastroenteritis can happen when your gastrointestinal (GI) tract is ingested and becomes swollen with infection. There is no sure way to prevent Gastroenteritis. It is a very common short-term condition that affects people of all age groups. In children, Gastroenteritis is caused more often due to Rotavirus, whereas in adults, Gastroenteritis is caused either by Norovirus or a sudden food poisoning episode due to bacteria. However, personal hygiene habits (like not cooking food if you’re sick to stop spreading the infection to others, washing hands frequently before and after cooking, before and after eating food, after changing diapers, after using washroom etc., keeping surroundings clean, washing contaminated clothes and bedsheets of infected patients properly, not sharing items like towels, and cutlery, avoiding raw and uncooked foods, drinking boiled and bottled water, storing foods properly etc.) and preparation of food in healthier conditions and safer environments can protect you, to some extent, from Gastroenteritis. Toddlers - as per their immunization schedule advised by the doctor - can be administered with the Rotavirus vaccination. Gastroenteritis (or Gastro) basically shows your gut infection. Viral Gastroenteritis can be highly contagious, and spreads through contact with contaminated stools and vomit, infected food and drinks, contaminated surfaces containing the virus, and even from the infected individual to the other person through the virus present in the droplets of their sneeze and cough and while shaking hands.

Symptoms Of Gastroenteritis

• Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Mild fever
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
• Passing less urine
• Stomach ache
• Nausea
• Body pain
• Weakness
• Headache
• Abdominal cramps
• blood or mucus in stools
• Aching in the limbs
• Feeling dizzy
• Dry skin and mouth
• Sunken eyes
• Ulcers

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis usually appear after a day of contracting the infection and clear up in a week’s time without much treatment or specific medication.

Gastroenteritis: Diagnosis & Treatment

If you spot symptoms of Gastroenteritis in yourself or your child, then speak to your local doctor. In healthy people generally, Gastroenteritis is not dangerous or life-threatening. However, in certain groups around the globe with less access to clean water, sanitation, nutritive foods and medical care, Gastroenteritis also leads to death. People with Gastroenteritis can mostly recover on their own. However, pregnant women, premature babies, younger children, elderly people, immunocompromised individuals, those working in / living in childcare centers and nursing facilities, people with serious conditions like the inflammatory bowel disease, and individuals travelling to less developed countries, need to take additional care to protect themselves from such stomach and intestine infections and prevent any complications that can occur due to Gastroenteritis. 

At the doctor’s clinic, diagnosis of Gastroenteritis is done through a physical examination by the practitioner, a clear understanding of Gastroenteritis symptoms in the patient and by sending the patient’s stool / blood for different tests. If you’re diagnosed with Gastroenteritis, you must ensure that you take ample rest, have adequate liquid intake to avoid risk of dehydration, follow medication as recommended by the doctor to control and treat symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, eat mild, bland and plain foods in smaller proportions and finally, stay at home taking a break from school, college or work in order to not pass on the infection to others. In cases of children with Gastroenteritis, continuing to feed them with breast milk can also help. Depending on the type of Gastroenteritis you are suffering from, the doctor can also prescribe antibiotic or antiparasitic medication to relieve you from the condition. In patients with severe dehydration, an IV drip can be given for fluids. For patients with Chemical Gastroenteritis, the doctor can treat further to flush out toxins from the body.