Infectious diseases of the digestive system in humans, or gastrointestinal infections, are a huge group of diseases that differ in degree of danger, incubation period, severity, etc. In many ways, they are similar in symptoms and ways of infection. Since they affect the intestines and stomach, they are classified as intestinal infections, or infectious diseases of the digestive system.
Kinds
There are many types of infection. Classification is based on the type of causative agent of the digestive system infectious diseases. There are 3 general groups:
- Bacterial
- Viral
- Food.
They also distinguish with the course - an acute inflammatory process and asymptomatic carriage. Food intoxication does not apply to infections, since there is no pathogen.
Types of intestinal infections
Intestinal infections are localized in the digestive tract, they are acute, cause inflammation in the mucous membranes, disrupt the digestive processes, and are accompanied by a sharp deterioration in the general condition.
About 90% of cases go away on their own, without drugs, but provided that the water-electrolyte balance in the body is fully replenished. Without this, even a mild form can lead to serious complications. And only in 10% of cases, drug therapy is required. These 10% without treatment can be fatal.
What are the infectious diseases of the digestive system in humans? The causative agents are viruses and bacteria, protozoa (protozoal). Next, the most common intestinal infections will be considered.
Viral
Viruses that cause major infectious diseases of the digestive system:
- Enterovirus.
- Norovirus.
- Rotavirus or intestinal flu, etc.
Infection occurs by alimentary, contact-household (from a patient or carrier), by an aerogenous route, through unwashed hands, when unboiled water is consumed.
Viruses affect the walls of the stomach and small intestine, the respiratory tract. The disease occurs more often in the autumn-winter period. With the right approach, cure occurs on the 7th day, but for another month the person remains an infectious carrier.
Treatment of viral infections is symptomatic, the basis is diet, drinking plenty of fluids to restore water-electrolyte balance and medication for symptoms. Quarantine recommended.
Bacterial
The intestinal bacterial infectious diseases of the digestive system include:
- Staphylococcal infection.
- E. coli.
- Salmonella.
- Shigella is a dysenteric wand. She has several strains.
- The causative agents of acute infections such as typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, botulism, cholera.
- Conditionally pathogenic microflora (Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of the body can also affect the intestines with a decrease in immunity. It causes purulent processes.
What are other infectious diseases of the digestive system? They are still protozoal, that is, they are caused by simple parasites - amoeba and lamblia.
Diseases of the bacterial group often lead to complications, therefore, are considered more dangerous.
Ways of infection - contact-household and fecal-oral. Bacteria affect the stomach, intestines, urinary tract. The complexity of this group of infections is that microorganisms release toxins even after their death, and in such quantities that they can cause toxic shock. Therefore, the task of treatment is not only the destruction of the pathogen, but also the removal of toxins from the body. The main role belongs to antibiotics, but only subject to the correct intake and a full course. Bacteria very easily become insensitive to them otherwise.
Common symptoms of a digestive infection
Symptoms of infections depend on the pathogen, but there are general symptoms. The first manifestations do not occur immediately after infection, it can take up to 50 hours. This is the incubation period necessary for the pathogen to penetrate the intestinal wall, start reproduction and release of toxins. The duration of this latent period is different for pathogens: for example, with salmonellosis - from 6 hours to 3 days, and in the case of cholera - 1-5 days, but more often the symptoms are noted after 12 hours.
A minor ailment is quickly replaced by abdominal pain. Vomiting and diarrhea appear. The temperature rises, chills and signs of varying degrees of intoxication appear.
Vomiting and diarrhea quickly dehydrate the body, and if treatment is not started, irreversible changes occur - impaired cardiovascular activity and kidney function, up to a fatal outcome.
The temperature can rise to 38-39 degrees, but, for example, with cholera, it remains normal, and with staphylococcus it quickly normalizes.
When vomiting, first leftovers of food come out, then gastric juice, bile and drunk liquid. Vomiting is frequent.
Abdominal pain is acute or aching, cramping, localization is different. It can be accompanied by flatulence, rumbling, boiling, colic.
Dysentery is characterized by tenesmus - false desires for a chair.
Diarrhea manifests itself differently depending on the pathogen.
With cholera, feces resemble rice broth. Salmonellosis is characterized by liquid green fetid stool with mucus. With dysentery, mucus and blood come out with feces. The frequency of the stool is different.
General weakness and malaise are the result of intoxication and dehydration. For the same reason, the pulse quickens, breathing, blood pressure decreases, the skin turns pale. Weakness and a sharp deterioration in appetite also occur.
In 70% of cases, there is a strong thirst, talking about dehydration. This leads to convulsions, arrhythmias. There may be a loss of consciousness, hypovolemic shock.
It is necessary to consult a doctor. Only by complaints, even an infectious disease specialist cannot determine nosology, but he can make a presumptive diagnosis.
Clinic of diseases of viral origin
Viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract has 3 main forms of the course:
- Easy. Discomfort, subfebrile or normal temperature are observed. Rotavirus infection is called intestinal flu. In this case, there are catarrhal symptoms of SARS: runny nose, sore throat, cough. Then rumbling, bubbling in the stomach, flatulence join. In adults, the clinic is often worn out, so such patients serve as a source of infection, continuing to work actively. The frequency of stools (mushy) - up to 5 times a day. No special treatment is required.
- Moderate severity. Raising the temperature to febrile digits. Repeated vomiting, with dehydration. The abdomen is swollen, diarrhea up to 15 times a day, with a sharp unpleasant odor, foam. Urine is dark, cloudy, intense thirst.
- Severe form. Stool up to 50 times a day, abdominal pain of varying severity, exicosis. Hypovolemic shock develops - pressure drop, filiform pulse, diuresis of not more than 300 ml per day. The skin is flabby, earthy-grayish, the face is pointed. Severe forms are observed in the weakened and the elderly. In a percentage ratio does not exceed 25%.
The clinical picture of bacterial infections
Dysentery is an infectious disease that occurs everywhere, more often in the summer. Called by Shigella bacteria. The source is the patient, as well as the use of unwashed vegetables or fruits, contaminated water or while swimming in the lakes. This is still connected with the mentality - people often relieve themselves while swimming.
Salmonellosis, perhaps the most common infection, is active throughout the year. The causative agents of salmonellosis love to nest in perishable products, while externally and by smell, these products are perceived as fresh. Especially salmonella love eggs, dairy and meat products, sausages. Bacteria are inside the eggs, not on the shell. Therefore, washing eggs does not save from infection.
Salmonella is very tenacious, at 70 degrees they die only after 10 minutes. With small boiling, salting, smoking, they survive perfectly inside thick pieces. Activity persists for several months.
Classification of forms of salmonellosis:
- localized
- generalized;
- bacteria isolation.
The localized form is the most common, develops with all the symptoms on the first day. Danger of complications. The infection in children is severe.
Staphylococcus is conditionally pathogenic, in the normal state of intestinal microflora it will not develop. Activation occurs with a decrease in immunity.
Staphylococcal intestinal infection develops rather slowly, and its first manifestations are a runny nose and sore throat, not a very high temperature.
Then the clinic resembles a typical food poisoning. Symptoms
- abdominal pain;
- vomiting
- diarrhea mixed with blood and mucus;
- general weakness.
Cakes, salads, creams, dairy products, and eggs often turn out to be infected products. Staphylococcus is difficult to treat because of its mutation and antibiotic resistance.
Klebsiella and Escherichia coli actively behave when immunity is weakened - in young children and the elderly, people after surgery, patients with diabetes mellitus, hematological pathologies, alcoholics. It is acute. It is treated with probiotics and bacteriophages.
Coccobacillus causes an intestinal infection called yersiniosis. Usually occurs in infants and young men. Its carriers are animals - rodents, livestock. Antibiotics are ineffective, symptomatic treatment. The course is not more than 5 days when taking action.
Intestinal coli infection, Escherichiosis are caused by bacteria of the same name - Escherichia. Infection can affect the intestines, biliary and urinary tract. Most often, premature babies and small children suffer from it.
First aid
Help with the development of an intestinal disease of the digestive system (infection) should begin with the first symptoms. You can suspect a problem by rapidly increasing body temperature, diarrhea and vomiting. The general condition is rapidly deteriorating. You need to immediately call an ambulance. Before the physicians arrive, some measures must be taken - rinse the stomach, put a cleansing enema, take a sorbent.
Gastric lavage
It is necessary to remove at least part of the toxins from the body. To wash the stomach, use water at room temperature, drink 2-3 glasses in one gulp to induce vomiting. According to modern protocols, the use of potassium permanganate solution for washing with a digestive system disease is not welcome. In terms of effectiveness, it is not better than ordinary water, but it can cause a mucous burn.
Cleansing enema and sorbent intake
With infectious diseases of the digestive system, it also helps to remove bacterial toxins. Simple boiled water is used, but only at room temperature. Cold water will cause a spasm, and hot water will increase the absorption of toxins.
Sorbents. Any sorbents (Lactofiltrum, activated carbon, Smecta, Fosfalugel, Sorbeks) will do. They can be taken before the ambulance arrives. They remove toxins by absorption and reduce the level of intoxication syndrome. Do not exceed recommended dosage.
Fluid for intestinal infections is necessary for the body in the first place. You can drink boiled water, mineral without gas, green tea. Reception should be done in small portions, but often - 5 sips every 10 minutes.
The remaining help will already be provided in the hospital. The main drugs against an infectious disease of the digestive system will be prescribed after diagnosis.
Establishing diagnosis
In addition to examining the patient and collecting a detailed anamnesis, they conduct blood biochemistry to detect a failure of electrolytes and disorders from the internal organs, take a blood test. A bacteriological examination of feces is necessary to determine the causative agent and prescribe the etiological treatment.
Preventive actions
It is possible to prevent the development of infectious diseases of the digestive system, first of all, by observing the rules of personal hygiene, and it is necessary:
- Wash hands after going to the toilet, returning from the street.
- Separate the patient’s dishes and household items.
- Buy products in stores where there is a certificate and permission to sell.
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly, even peeled; spoiled spoiled, not acting on the principle of "better in us than in the basin."
- Drink only filtered or boiled water. You cannot drink from wells and ponds.
- Salads to cook themselves, not buying ready-made in supermarkets. Observe the shelf life of products - meat, milk, eggs, etc.
Prevention of infectious diseases of the digestive system is not only clean hands, but also not to try unwashed fruits on the market, not to get cut melons.
Timeliness of treatment and diagnosis is important. For this, if a child or an adult shows signs of an infectious disease of the digestive system, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately.