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Overview
The disease Gastroenteritis happens when inflammation occurs on the lining of
the stomach, the small and large intestines. Most cases of this disease are infectious,
some of which are caused by taking in chemical toxins and drugs. A patient may get this
disease through person to person, water and food intake. For its symptoms, it includes
anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal tenderness. Diagnosis could be
seen clinical or by stool test, although some tests like the Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR) and Immunoassays are starting to be used gradually. The treatment is
symptomatic, although some parasitic and some bacterial infections need specific anti-
infective therapy.
Pathophysiology
Gastroenteritis can either be caused by viral, bacterial, and/or parasitic pathogens
present in the contaminated food and water consumed. The pathogens can be invasive
causing cell damage to the epithelium and produce toxins that facilitate infection and also
be non-invasive where damage only occurs in the enterotoxin production. This will lead
to the inflammation and/or damage of the mucosal lining of the intestine which increases
the permeability and peristaltic movement and impairs intestinal absorption, resulting in
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Gastroenteritis can also be caused by
the large intake of extremely spicy food. Spices added to the food may cause irritation to
the stomach’s mucosal lining and increase the acid secretion due to having a high acidic
content and reduce the strength of the mucosal barrier. Due to the impaired intestinal
mucosal surfaces with consequences of hypotonic dehydration and metabolic acidosis,
there would be malabsorption and maldigestion which can lead to have severe
complications.
Management and Treatment
The general management for any patient with gastroenteritis include:
Rehydration, encouraging oral fluid intake when possible but avoid fizzy drinks or
fruit juice that mat worsen the diarrhea
If severe dehydration or unable to tolerate oral fluid, consider admitting the patient
for IV fluids
Consume food that contain electrolytes and complex carbohydrates to help replace
the nutrients
Hands must be washed before and after each contact with a gastroenteritis
patient
Fluid repellent surgical masks should be worn by those in contact with ill patient
when there is a potential for aerosol dissemination e.g. attending a person who is
vomiting or cleaning areas or items that are visibly contaminated by feces or
vomitus
Make sure the patient gets plenty of rest
Disinfect and/or wash any surfaces that could be contaminated
Avoid sharing of personal items with the patient
For the treatment, rehydration with proper electrolytes is critical. Some symptoms may be
relieved through the antidiarrheals and antiemetics. For the bacterial and parasitic
pathogens, antibiotics are needed. Gastroenteritis is typically self-limiting in 3-4 days, but
those that are parasitic may last longer than the usual. Those young children and elderly
are more prone to life-threatening cases.
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