Gastroenteritis, more popularly known as gastric flu, refers to the inflammatory disease of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. The disease is usually manifested by diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, suppression of appetite, general weakness and tachycardia. In this case, the temperature may rise, an ache in the body, reminiscent of the state of the flu. What distinguishes gastroenteritis and what are its causes?
The reason for the violation of metabolic functions is that the disease causes a decline in the production of enzymes that provide digestion.
Depending on the causative agent of gastroenteritis, it is divided into the following varieties:
- bacterial;
- is viral;
- parasitic;
- is eosinophilic.
What causes gastroenteritis?
The cause of bacterial gastroenteritis is E. coli, salmonella or staphylococcal infection and other pathogens that enter the stomach with stale food or develop with reduced immunity.
Some of the types of bacterial gastroenteritis are also found in animals. For example, the cause of infection with salmonella in 50% of cases are eggs and poultry meat.
The causative agent of viral gastroenteritis in most cases is rotavirus, which enters the body in violation of the hygiene of cooking and eating, the use of unwashed or raw, undercooked and undercooked food, as well as contaminated water. The highest activity of rotavirus is observed in winter. A person suffering from intestinal flu can infect others.
A parasitic type of disease is caused by certain parasites when ingested. The cause of eosinophilic disease, presumably, is an allergy to some of the foods.
The disease can occur after taking some medications, like professional for poisoning with mercury, acids and salts of heavy metals, as a result of cancer, influenza, pneumonia. Often gastroenteritis is caused by the manifestation of another disease( dysentery, salmonellosis and others), although it sometimes appears as an independent malaise. Quite often there are cases of nosocomial type of disease.
The disease is characterized by a sudden appearance and rapid development. The patient suffers from attacks of pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting and frequent diarrhea. Perhaps a rise in temperature, general weakness, body aches, tachycardia and fainting. Swelling and rumbling in the abdomen can occur if there is no intensive gas leakage. An untreated acute form of the disease usually changes into a chronic one.
Most often, children with gastroenteritis are up to one year old. The cause of the disease is low immunity of babies, and also the expansion of the diet due to new unusual products. Adults who are near children can also become infected.
Previously, this disease was often the cause of death. In modern times, with the development of medicine, the disease is quickly cured. The main thing is to consult the doctor in time to identify the causative agent of gastroenteritis and to draw up a competent treatment regimen.