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Gastroenteritis - an overview
Gastroenteritisisanillnesstriggeredbytheinfectionandinflammationofthedigestivesystem. Typicalsymptomsincludeabdominalcramps,diarrhoeaandvomiting.Inmanycases,thecondition isself-limitingandresolvesinafewdays. Themaincomplicationofgastroenteritisisdehydration,butthiscanbepreventedifthefluidlostin vomitanddiarrhoeaisreplaced.Apersonsufferingfromseveregastroenteritismayneedfluids administeredintravenously(directlyintothebloodstreamviaavein).Someofthecausesof gastroenteritisincludeviruses,bacteria,bacterialtoxins,parasites,particularchemicalsandsome drugs. Symptoms Thesymptomsofgastroenteritiscaninclude: Lossofappetite Bloating Nausea Vomiting Abdominalcramps Abdominalpain Diarrhoea Bloodystools(insomecases) Pusinthestools(insomecases) Generallyfeelingunwell,includinglethargyandbodyaches.

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A range of causes Therearemanythingsthatcancausegastroenteritis,including: Virusessuchascaliciviruses,rotaviruses,astrovirusesandadenoviruses. BacteriasuchastheCampylobacterbacterium. ParasitessuchasEntamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia andCryptosporidium. Bacterial toxinsthebacteriathemselvesdontcauseillness,buttheirpoisonousbyproductscancontaminatefood.Somestrainsofstaphylococcalbacteriaproducetoxinsthat cancausegastroenteritis. Chemicalsleadpoisoning,forexample,cantriggergastroenteritis. Drugscertaindrugs,suchasantibiotics,cancausegastroenteritisinsusceptiblepeople.

Infectious gastroenteritis Infectiousgastroenteritisiscausedbyviruses,bacteriaorparasites.Ineachcase,infectionoccurs whentheagentisingested,usuallybyeatingordrinking.Someofthecommontypesofinfectious gastroenteritisinclude: Escherichia coli infection thisisacommonproblemfortravellerstocountrieswith poorsanitation.Infectioniscausedbydrinkingcontaminatedwateroreatingcontaminated rawfruitsandvegetables. Campylobacter infectionthebacteriaarefoundinanimalfaeces.Infectioniscaused by,forexample,consumingcontaminatedfoodorwater,eatingundercookedmeat (especiallychicken),andnotwashingyourhandsafterhandlinginfectedanimals. Cryptosporidium infectionparasitesarefoundinthebowelsofhumansandanimals. Infectioniscausedby,forexample,swimminginacontaminatedpoolandaccidentally swallowingwater,orthroughcontactwithinfectedanimals.Aninfectedpersonmayspread theparasitestofoodorsurfacesiftheydontwashtheirhandsaftergoingtothetoilet.

Gastroenteritis-anoverview

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Giardiasisparasiteinfectionofthebowel.Infectioniscausedby,forexample,drinking contaminatedwater,handlinginfectedanimalsorchangingthenappyofaninfectedbaby andnotwashingyourhandsafterwards. Salmonellosis bacteriaarefoundinanimalfaeces.Infectioniscausedbyeating contaminatedfoodorhandlinginfectedanimals.Aninfectedpersonmayalsospreadthe bacteriatootherpeopleorsurfacesbynotwashingtheirhandsproperly. Shigellosisbacteriaarefoundinfaeces.Aninfectedpersonmayspreadthebacteriato foodorsurfacesiftheydontwashtheirhandsaftergoingtothetoilet. Viral gastroenteritisvirusesarefoundinhumanfaeces.Infectioniscausedbypersonto-personcontactsuchastouchingcontaminatedhands,faecesorvomit,orbydrinking contaminatedwaterorfood.

Diagnosis Itisimportanttoestablishthecause,asdifferenttypesofgastroenteritisrespondtodifferent treatments.Diagnosticmethodsmayinclude: Medicalhistory Physicalexamination Bloodtests Stooltests.

Treatment Treatmentdependsonthecausebutmayinclude: Plentyoffluids Oralrehydrationdrinks,availablefromyourchemist Admissiontohospitalandintravenousfluidreplacement,inseverecases Antibiotics,ifbacteriaarethecause Drugstokilltheparasites,ifparasitesarethecause Avoidinganti-vomitingoranti-diarrhoeadrugsunlessprescribedorrecommendedbyyour doctor,becausethesemedicationswillkeeptheinfectioninsideyourbody.

Prevention Generalsuggestionsonhowtoreducetheriskofgastroenteritisinclude: Washhandsthoroughlywithsoapandwateraftergoingtothetoiletorchangingnappies, aftersmoking,afterusingahandkerchiefortissue,orafterhandlinganimals. Washyourhandsthoroughlywithsoapandwaterbeforepreparingfoodoreating. Usedisposablepapertowelstodryyourhandsratherthanclothtowels,sincethebacteria cansurviveforsometimeonobjects. Keepcoldfoodcold(below5C)andhotfoothot(above60C)todiscouragethegrowthof bacteria. Makesurefoodsarethoroughlycooked. Cleanthetoiletandbathroomregularly,especiallythetoiletseat,doorhandlesandtaps. Cleanbabychangetablesregularly. Whentravellingoverseastocountrieswheresanitationissuspect,onlydrinkbottledwater. Dontforgettobrushyourteethinbottledwatertoo.Avoidfoodbuffets,uncookedfoodsor peeledfruitsandvegetables,andiceindrinks.

Where to get help Yourdoctor Yourlocalcouncilhealthdepartment DepartmentofHumanServicesVictoria,CommunicableDiseaseControlUnitTel.1300651 160

Things to remember Gastroenteritisisashort-termillnesstriggeredbytheinfectionandinflammationofthe digestivesystem. Symptomscanincludeabdominalcramps,diarrhoeaandvomiting. Someofthecausesofgastroenteritisincludeviruses,bacteria,bacterialtoxins,parasites, particularchemicalsandsomedrugs.

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DepartmentofHealth-CommunicableDiseasePreventionandControlUnit

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Gastroenteritis-anoverview

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