Meaning and Definition of Gastroenteritis

Definition of Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is an infectious disease that affects the stomach and the small intestine causing symptoms characterized by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. It is a disease that occurs predominantly in children.
This disease tends to have a short course and in many cases it disappears after 5-7 days, the main organism involved in its development is a type virus Rotavirus that is acquired by ingestion of contaminated food or water.
Although viruses do not have a specific treatment, medical attention is required and is carried out with the aim of providing support and treatment to the symptoms, in the case of diarrhea and vomiting may be significant loss of body fluids which can cause a State of dehydration which can affect the functioning of the various organs and systems which can put at risk the life of the patient.
Another symptom that should be monitored and dealt with is fever, in children usually deals only with episodes of seizures when the temperature reaches 39 ° C, they are known as febrile seizures and they should be prevented to avoid future sequels in the nervous system.
In addition to viruses, there are other microorganisms capable of producing gastroenteritis, such is the case of bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella, as well as parasites, notably Giardia and Cryptosporidium. In the case of parasites, diarrhea often persist for long time causing a loss of nutrients, which affects growth in weight and height of children affected. In these cases the patients should receive a specific antibiotic treatment once identified some of these germs.
Regardless of the causative agent of Gastroenteritis, as in these cases is essential hydration. It is very important to supply water or solutions for hydration in small amounts several times a day, always be possible must be used the oral route, in case of vomiting or alterations of consciousness hydration must be carried out using solutions intravenously.
In addition to rehydration it is important that the child or the person concerned continue eating food, you must ensure that food is based on foods easy to digest avoiding dairy products, soft drinks and comprehensive or high-fiber products since they may aggravate diarrhea. Children who receive breast milk feeding may continue to receive it.
Prevention is an important aspect in relation to Gastroenteritis, regardless of the germ that causes this infection is acquired by fecal-oral transmission, i.e., a healthy person eats a food or water contaminated with microorganisms and subsequently develops the disease, if the secretions of the sick person (saliva, gastric contents or feces) are not handled or arranged properly, go to contaminate water supplies or foods which give origin to new cases of the disease. One of the most important preventive measures is the proper hand-washing, use of boiled water and cleaning of objects used for preparing and delivering food.