Inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa is a very common disease that is often found in medical practice. That is why it is worth knowing what are the causes and main symptoms of enteritis. Indeed, patients with a similar diagnosis just need medical attention.
The main causes of enteritis
Of course, in most cases, the disease is associated with the activity of certain pathogenic microorganisms. For example, infectious enteritis may result from dysentery or salmonellosis. Nevertheless, there are some risk factors, in the presence of which the likelihood of developing the disease is much higher:
- risk factors include uncontrolled medication;
- in addition, the disease can develop as a result of malnutrition, the constant use of spicy and spicy food and alcohol;
- the inflammation of the mucous membrane can lead to the use of certain toxins, in particular, salts of heavy metals and arsenic;
- enteritis can develop against a background of parasitic diseases, for example, if there are worms in the intestines that damage the mucous membrane;
- some diseases of the circulatory system, in particular, vascular insufficiency, create excellent conditions for the development of the inflammatory process;
- if it is a chronic enteritis, then it usually occurs with improper treatment of the acute form of the disease.
The main symptoms of enteritis
In fact, the symptoms of the disease can be different, it all depends on the form of the disease, stage of its development and severity. In any case, the symptoms of enteritis are usually divided into two forms: intestinal and extraintestinal.
- As a rule, at the initial stages of the development of the disease, the normal absorption of bile acids is disrupted, which leads to a violation of normal digestion. Patients complain of persistent diarrhea. In addition, pain in the middle part of the abdomen can be attributed to the symptoms. Soreness significantly increases 3 to 4 hours after eating. Flatulence and bloating are also symptoms of enteritis.
- As for extraintestinal symptoms, they are associated with a violation of the normal metabolism and absorption processes, since as the disease progresses, the mucous membrane becomes thinner and gradually ceases to fulfill its basic functions. This group of symptoms can be attributed to constant fatigue, decreased performance, increased irritability. In connection with anemia and impaired absorption of vitamins, dry skin, brittleness and hair loss, swelling, muscle weakness appear.
Enteritis: how to treat?
Treatment depends on the form and severity of the disease. As a rule, the doctor prescribes a course of taking antibiotics. It is also necessary to take sorbents (activated carbon), which quickly remove toxins from the intestines. A crucial part of the treatment is a proper diet. In the first two days, the diet should be limited to 500 ml of rice broth. In the future, additional products recommended by the doctor can be gradually introduced into the menu. Also shown is the intake of vitamins and preparations containing beneficial minerals, in particular iron - this will help fill up the deficiency of nutrients. With dysbiosis, the patient is prescribed drugs containing live cultures of beneficial bacteria.