Gastroenteritis: treatment, symptoms and diagnosis. The consequences of gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a disease that occurs due to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine. The causes of the appearance are bacteria, viruses and food.

How is the disease going?

In acute intestinal infections, diarrhea occurs from 3 to 15 r / day, depending on the severity, vomiting from a single to 15 r / day, abdominal pain, temperature from normal to 40 degrees.

With moderate to severe gastroenteritis, thirst, dry mouth, rare urination, palpitations, dehydration, weight loss are observed.

In the most severe cases, pallor, blueness of the tips of the fingers, nose, earlobes, dizziness, cramps, fainting, impaired consciousness are noticeable.

Often there is rotavirus gastroenteritis, the treatment of which is outpatient.

The chronic form of gastroenteritis is a change in the gastrointestinal mucosa, leading to constant problems with absorption. The patient periodically experiences nausea, diarrhea, heaviness in the stomach, difficult and painful digestion. As a result, it leads to weakness, fatigue, weight loss, irritability, sleep disturbances.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis in adults and children

Depending on the cause of gastroenteritis, the following symptoms are distinguished:

1. Viral gastroenteritis, in addition to a general digestive upset with OI, causes symptoms of SARS: runny nose, sore throat, dry cough.
2. With bacterial inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, the onset is usually acute with a sharp increase in temperature.
3. There is also nausea and repeated vomiting, cramping pain in the navel, frequent loose stools with mucus and greenery.
4. Toxic gastroenteritis causes pain in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, frequent stools with streaks of blood or black as tar.
5. Helminthic gastroenteritis, as a rule, is easier than others. Manifested by nausea, dizziness, unformed stools, bloating and rumbling in the stomach. Appetite is increased or, conversely, is absent.
6. With an allergic lesion of the gastrointestinal tract, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain on the left, rumbling, frequent profuse stools are observed. The temperature is normal.
7. With alimentary gastroenteritis - complaints of pain in the stomach, in the upper abdomen, around the navel, which intensifies in front of the stool, nausea, refusal to eat.
   

Types of gastroenteritis in the form of manifestation

In the form of manifestation of gastroenteritis, there are:

1. Acute gastroenteritis, the treatment consists in a diet (acute intestinal infection - AEI) - acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa. It happens mild, moderate and severe.
2. Chronic: persistent signs of dyspepsia at normal temperature, impaired general well-being.

Types of gastroenteritis. Causes

For the reason, gastroenteritis is divided into:

1. Viral - caused by viruses. More often in winter. Incubation is 1-3 days. Characteristic for children from 3 months to 3 years. It is transmitted by airborne droplets and fecal-oral. It lasts 1-3 days. The virus comes out with feces for another month after recovery. Immunity is produced. Re-going is easier.
2. Bacterial - from bacteria and their toxins. For example, cholera and salmonellosis. They get sick more in the summer and autumn, when bacteria actively multiply. Transfer with food, water, contact. Particularly dangerous are meat and dairy products, dirty greens and vegetables. Incubation - 2-24 hours. All categories of the population are sick, but it is especially dangerous for children and the elderly, since they have lower enzyme activity. It lasts 5-10 days.
3. Toxic - develops with the use of toxins: alcohol, NSAIDs, herbs, household chemicals, salts of heavy metals, X-ray drugs. Manifestations - within 48 hours from contact. Passes in 2–5 days.
4. Helminthic - worms violate the mucosa of the small intestine. The number of infections is higher in summer and autumn. The source is eggs and larvae of helminths from humans and animals.
5. Eosinophilic. Caused by an allergy to exotic foods. In the digestive organs, vesicles form with a large number of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell). It lasts 1-3 days with the complete exclusion of the allergen from the food.
6. Alimentary. The reason is excessive consumption of fatty or spicy foods, alcohol, and irritating the mucous membrane of the digestive system. It lasts 1-3 days with a diet.
   

Diagnosis of gastroenteritis in adults and children

A gastroenterologist or an infectious disease specialist is involved in the diagnosis of the disease, both adults and children.

The first stage: examination by a doctor and the appointment of the necessary tests. Symptoms may not always correctly indicate the diagnosis, so a laboratory test should be done. To establish the correct diagnosis and the right treatment, an in-depth study of the patient's condition is necessary. An external examination takes into account the condition of the liver and appendix, as well as the condition of the skin.

When diagnosing, the doctor takes into account all, even, at times, minor factors. For example, the state of sanitary conditions in the area, similar cases in the patient’s environment, a change in the usual diet, and he also studies the medical history. All this is necessary for the most correct treatment. He also tries to identify the causes of the disease in order to avoid re-illness in a short time.

Laboratory methods include: serological blood tests, coprograms, clinical blood tests, microscopic and bacteriological studies.

In instrumental: intragastric pH-metry, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

Drug treatment

Treatment of gastroenteritis in children and adults can be carried out not only in the walls of the clinic under the supervision of a doctor, but also at home. In this case, a specialist consultation is received, but suitable preparations, tinctures are taken at home, on their own. To improve the patient's condition, it is necessary to achieve:

• normalize the balance of water and salt in the body;
• at the first time after an attack, manifestations of pain, refuse food, after some time continue to eat only that food that strictly corresponds to the diet for patients with gastroenteritis;
• take drugs that stop the development of diarrhea, vomiting;
• in a difficult situation, take an antibiotic (for severe pain in the stomach).

Treatment of gastroenteritis with folk remedies has a direction in restoring the gastric mucosa. Also, with the help of various decoctions and tinctures, the amount of fluid in the body is filled. Of the methods of physiotherapy, a warm compress, inductothermy, and paraffin application contribute well to the healing of inflammation.

All types of treatment have one goal: to restore the mucous membrane of the stomach, to completely eliminate inflammation. When treatment fails, gastroenteritis provokes the development of an ulcer.

Alternative treatment

Treatment of gastroenteritis with folk remedies is quite attractive, since the natural composition of these drugs allows you to avoid many undesirable side effects that pharmacological drugs possess. Folk remedies for gastroenteritis are a variety of herbal infusions and decoctions to combat the disease. Here are some of them. So, the treatment of gastroenteritis in adults:

• Mint tincture - brew mint leaves (a glass) with hot water (a glass) and leave for 30 minutes so that the mint gives healing properties to water. Then strain and drink 60 ml at a time. It relieves negative symptoms.
• Oatmeal flakes - pour boiling water over the flakes, insist that the liquid is completely absorbed and a breakfast useful for the stomach is ready for every day. They have an enveloping effect.
• Cranberries - add 20 g of boiling water to 20 g of berries. Boil on low heat or simply insist 15 minutes and strain. 80 ml for 4 doses per day. A slightly acidic infusion is useful to reduce inflammation and temperature.
• Jelly from the Orchis - chop 5-10 g of tubers (you can use a coffee grinder), pour a glass of hot milk and stir until jelly. Take 50 g per day.
• Chernogolovka - 1 tsp. chopped herbs in a glass of boiling water to insist in a thermos for 2.5 hours. Before taking, strain and take 2 tsp. up to 5 times a day before meals. Helps stop diarrhea and gives anti-inflammatory effect.
• Oak bark, tansy, wormwood root, Lungwort, bird cherry berries and blackberry leaves are brewed in a similar way.

Prevention of gastroenteritis in adults and children

Prevention of gastroenteritis is the observance of a number of rules that allow you to protect yourself or your child and stay healthy. What is the treatment of gastroenteritis in children:

1. Clean hands - to teach a child to wash his hands with soap and water before eating, after walking on the street, after visiting crowded places and toilets.
2. Expiration date - check the expiration date of purchased food products.
3. Ready-made food - eat food or products that have undergone sufficient heat treatment (this applies to meat, eggs, fish).
4. Water - do not drink raw water, it is advisable to use boiled or purchased water.
5. Fresh vegetables and fruits - before eating, be sure to wash with warm water and wipe with a paper towel.
6. Isolation - during the period of illness, isolate the diseased family member (adult or child), it is necessary to limit communication with him, to separate separate dishes and a towel, to put on a mask with close contact.
7. Product quality - competently sort food in the refrigerator - raw foods separately from cooked, quickly spoiling (dairy, confectionery) products should not be stored on the table or bought in the market.
8. Disinfection - during the period of the epidemic, it is necessary to ventilate the apartment more often and carry out wet cleaning, it is better to wash dishes and door handles with soda solution.
9. Medical assistance - if the first symptoms of gastroenteritis appear, it is better to consult a local doctor and get specialist advice.
   

Gastroenteritis in dogs

A disease such as gastroenteritis in dogs is manifested by a sharp deterioration in digestion, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, high fever, blood in the stool and weight loss. In addition, the disease affects the mood of the pet: the dog becomes lethargic, begins to whine. Gastroenteritis primarily affects the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.

The causes of this unpleasant phenomenon are various factors:

1. Bad food, poor quality, or spicy or fatty foods.
2. Irregular feeding.
3. The infection is viral or bacterial, infection with parasites.
4. Foreign objects.
5. Food allergy.
6. Taking medication.

If gastroenteritis is detected in dogs, treatment should be followed immediately, otherwise complications will arise, up to death.

Types of gastroenteritis in animals

Types of gastroenteritis in animals:

• Purulent.
• Phlegmonous.
• Diphtheria.
• Mucous membranous.
• Mixed.
• Hemorrhagic or, as it is also called, coronovirus gastroenteritis, the treatment of which depends on the form.
• Croupous.

It proceeds in three stages: primary, secondary and chronic. Symptoms and treatment of gastroenteritis in dogs depend on the cause, type and stage of the disease - the treatment is prescribed by the veterinarian. At home, to combat dehydration, a rehydron solution is poured into the oral cavity.

In order not to encounter a similar problem, first of all, it is necessary to monitor the nutrition of the animal, it must be balanced, with a sufficient content of vitamins and trace elements, vaccinate. In addition, it is worth watching the animal, walking on a leash, after feeding, so that the dog does not have the desire to grab the spoiled food on the street.

Gastroenteritis in cats

Cats have many diseases, and if you don’t start treating them in time, this will lead to the death of your beloved pet. Gastroenteritis occurs as a result of malnutrition, overeating, or fodder is unnatural and of poor quality. Food in which a small amount of vitamins acts on the cat is not as it should, and this leads to poisoning. It is sometimes seen that the pet does not touch food. If it eats, then vomiting and diarrhea begin. The disease affects the external structure of the skin. Cats drop their hair and dandruff appears. But secondary gastroenteritis appears as a result of various diseases. If you see that the pet is not well, in this case you need to be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible. After a thorough examination, he will make the necessary diagnosis and prescribe treatment for gastroenteritis in cats. Owners must comply with the measures and prescriptions of the doctor. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then in this case, in no case do not often need to feed the pet. Also, drugs are added to the food that will help cure the pet. A few days later, the pet is fed with decoctions or serum.

All types of treatment have one goal: to restore the mucous membrane of the stomach, to completely eliminate inflammation. When treatment fails, gastroenteritis provokes the development of an ulcer.