Chronic enteritis is an inflammatory disease of the small intestine, which is accompanied by an upset digestive function, a persistent violation of bowel movements. Dealing with the chronic form of the disease with standard medications is often difficult. Therefore, after determining the symptoms, treatment of chronic enteritis in adults, doctors and patients themselves are trying to supplement the use of folk remedies.
Causes
Chronic enteritis is a long sluggish inflammatory process that affects the mucous membranes of the small intestine. This condition develops against the background of:
- Acute inflammation of the intestines and duodenum. Weakened immunity can be the first and main reason for the formation of a persistent chronic disease. Therefore, for people with reduced body resistance, doctors recommend less risking themselves: eating properly, avoiding crowded places if possible (especially during seasonal exacerbations), spending a lot of time in the fresh air, and so on.
- The effects of bacterial, viral, fungal agents. Poorly washed vegetables and fruits, unfiltered boiled water, violation of sanitary standards can cause various infections to enter the body. They, in turn, quickly attaching themselves to the walls of the stomach and intestines, become provocateurs of the inflammatory process.
- Poisoning by household and industrial poisons. Mercury, lead, and other chemicals contained in household chemicals and in enterprises can cause the development of chronic enteritis and some other diseases that cannot be completely treated.
Symptoms
Symptoms of chronic enteritis in the acute stage manifest themselves as follows:
- There is paroxysmal pain around the navel. Food, getting into the stomach, is mixed and broken down into simpler components. Then it passes into the intestine along with gastric juice for easier absorption. It is at that moment when the microparticles of the products and the aggressive alkali touch the damaged areas of the smooth epithelium (mucous membrane), unpleasant, stitching and cutting pains arise.
- Increased flatulence, nausea, impaired bowel movement. Since the damaged walls of the intestine cannot fully cope with the task set for them - the absorption of nutrients and the release of unnecessary residues, a gradual accumulation of toxic substances and their decay occurs. This leads to the further development of inflammation, as well as to the appearance of multiple symptoms of indigestion.
- Psycho-emotional inhibition, loss of strength. Due to the fact that nutrients are not well established, the patient constantly feels drowsiness, weakness, and experiences general malaise. In the most advanced cases, a breakdown occurs, anemia.
Severity
Enteritis, like any other disease, is divided into several types and has a certain severity, which characterizes the depth of the lesion of a particular function of the body.
There are three main degrees of severity, which will be discussed below.
Initial
1st degree of chronic enteritis is manifested by local symptoms of digestive upset. The patient noted: heartburn, increased gas formation, loose stools, heaviness after eating, discomfort in the abdomen (navel area). Weight loss up to and including 5 kg can also be observed.
Average
2nd degree of CE - in addition to the above-mentioned phenomena, the patient experiences: bowel movements, pain during bowel movements, nausea in the morning. Weight loss in the second stage can be significant, and most often it is combined with a general weakening, the development of iron deficiency anemia.
Heavy
3rd degree - in the feces, impurities of pus or blood are observed, the work of intestinal motility is disturbed, useful trace elements are not absorbed at all. The patient has constant pain in the navel, giving to the groin or lower back. General condition - greatly weakened, on the verge of exhaustion. In addition to signs of anemia, mild dehydration can be detected.
Exacerbations
Exacerbations of chronic enteritis occur against the background of seasonal infectious-viral diseases, malnutrition, non-compliance with doctor's recommendations, and prolonged exposure to adverse environmental factors.
Most often, the period of the resumption of the inflammatory process begins with a minor digestive upset and ends with an emergency hospitalization in the gastroenterology department of the district hospital.
To reliably diagnose the first signs of the resumption of chronic enteritis in adults, it is enough to evaluate:
- The quality of bowel movements. Regular stool of a uniform consistency indicates the normal functioning of the intestine. Frequent diarrhea or constipation, on the contrary, can serve as the first signals for seeking medical help from a specialist.
- The process of assimilation of food. If you follow a diet and other prescriptions issued by a doctor - there should be no problems with the assimilation of food. But in the event that the appointment was violated or even with proper nutrition, there are observed: bloating, constant heaviness in the stomach, uncomfortable sensations after eating, and so on - it is worth undergoing a second examination.
- General state. A sharp decrease in performance in combination with frequent bouts of heartburn are a reliable sign of exacerbation of chronic enteritis. To prevent relapse, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Diagnostics
Since diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are similar to each other, it is possible to differentiate them only with laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods.
Laboratory studies include:
- General blood analysis. In patients with chronic enteritis, there is a sharp decrease in the amount of iron, signs of anemic condition (hemoglobin less than 100 units).
- General urine analysis. Significant changes in the readings are not observed, however, the specific gravity and density of the test material is significantly lower than normal.
- Blood chemistry. The study of the levels of ASAT and ALAT, other enzymes shows a persistent violation of the digestive processes.
- Coprogram. Traces of undigested food, large amounts of starch, fiber and bacteria may be present in feces.
Hardware and screening diagnostic methods:
- The study of motility and peristalsis of the intestine by introducing a probe. This study is carried out in order to determine the causes of fecal retention or incontinence (which is quite possible in the case of a running inflammatory process).
- Determination of the rate of absorption and digestion of food. The patient is injected with a certain amount of nutrients through the probe, after which the general characteristics of their absorption and further excretion are determined.
Drug treatment
Treatment of chronic enteritis in adults with medicines should be carried out in the same complex with a strict diet. By and large, the drug method is not aimed at eliminating the disease itself, but at alleviating the symptoms.
The most basic stage of treatment is the fight against dysbiosis, namely the colonization of intestinal microflora with beneficial bacteria. These are probiotics that actively fight harmful bacteria.
Adsorbents are great help in reducing diarrhea and removing toxins from the body. These drugs produce a soft bowel cleansing. They also help with bloating, removing excess gas.
The administration of enzymes for the pancreas is often prescribed, since its functions in enteritis are often impaired. With acute symptoms of enteritis, stationary observation is indispensable.
If the disease is severe, then special steroid hormones are used to reduce inflammation in the intestines.
Anabolic steroids can also serve as an additional component. They contribute to the normalization of metabolic processes in the body, providing better and faster restoration of intestinal microflora.
Herbs
The most popular herbs that help cope with inflammation are considered to be:
- calamus root;
- Birch buds;
- Aralia root of Manchurian;
- sand immortelle flowers;
- bloody red hawthorn flowers;
- valerian root;
- leaves of a three-leaf watch;
- common oregano grass;
- St. John's wort
- calendula officinalis flowers;
- dioica nettle leaves;
- heart-shaped linden flowers;
- dandelion root;
- peppermint leaves;
- tansy flowers;
- plantain leaves;
- flowers of the five-bladed motherwort;
- yarrow;
- seeds of garden dill;
- horsetail grass;
- cones of ordinary hop;
- grass of a series of three-parted;
- celandine is big;
- brown rose hips.
From them make infusions and decoctions.
Diet
In the diet of a patient with chronic enteritis, soups on vegetable broth should be included, light fat-free meat or fish broth is allowed. The vegetables must be well wiped and boiled. Porridge must be cooked mainly on water or a little milk is added. Also in the diet is allowed to include cheese, kefir and other dairy products. It is better to wipe the fruits finely and make them jelly.
It is allowed to eat vegetables - potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, cabbage, beets, carrots. If greens are added, then it should be finely chopped. Vegetables can be stewed or boiled.
It is also allowed to include some meat products in the diet, preferably non-fat varieties of poultry, but you can also use turkey, beef, and rabbit. Without skin. Meat dishes should be boiled or baked in the oven. In the same way you can do with low-fat fish.
A diet for chronic enteritis limits baking and flour products, if you want something sweet, then honey, jam are allowed, and marshmallow and pastille are also allowed.
Here is an approximate daily diet for a person who has enteritis:
- Breakfast: you can eat a boiled egg (preferably soft-boiled), porridge (mainly oatmeal), drink tea.
- Lunch: meat broth, steamed cutlets, drink jelly.
- Dinner: fish and vegetable salad, tea. An hour before bedtime, you can drink a glass of fresh (1-2 day) kefir.
The main thing is to remember that the doctor prescribes adequate treatment, diet and daily routine. In no case should you self-medicate.