Health
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Knowledge has power.
| Health Science |
| Gastroenteritis |
Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection caused by several
different viruses. Highly contagious, viral gastroenteritis is the
second most common illness in the United States. It causes
millions of cases of diarrhea each year.
Anyone can get viral gastroenteritis and most people recover
without any complications. However, viral gastroenteritis can
be serious when people cannot drink enough fluids to replace
what is lost through vomiting and diarrhea�especially infants,
young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune
systems.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea
and vomiting. Other symptoms are headache, fever, chills, and
abdominal pain. Symptoms usually appear within 4 to 48
hours after exposure to the virus and last for 1 to 2 days,
though symptoms can last as long as 10 days.
Causes
The viruses that cause viral gastroenteritis damage the cells in
the lining of the small intestine. As a result, fluids leak from
the cells into the intestine and produce watery diarrhea. Four
types of viruses cause most viral gastroenteritis.
* Rotavirus is the leading cause among children 3 to 15
months old and the most common cause of diarrhea in
children under the age of 5 years. Symptoms of rotavirus
infection appear 1 to 2 days after exposure. Rotavirus typically
causes vomiting and watery diarrhea for 3 to 8 days, along
with fever and abdominal pain. Rotavirus can also infect adults
who are in close contact with infected children, but the
symptoms in adults are milder. In the United States, rotavirus
infections are most common from November to April.
* Adenovirus occurs mainly in children under the age of 2
years. Of the 49 types of adenoviruses, one strain affects the
gastrointestinal tract causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms typically appear 1 week after exposure. Adenovirus
infections occur year round.
* Caliciviruses cause infection in people of all ages. This family
of viruses is divided into 4 types, the noroviruses being the
most common and most responsible for infecting people. The
noroviruses are usually responsible for epidemics of viral
gastroenteritis and occur more frequently from October to
April. Infected people experience vomiting and diarrhea,
fatigue, headache, and sometimes muscle aches. The
symptoms appear within 1 to 3 days of exposure.
* Astrovirus also infects primarily infants, young children, and
the elderly. This virus is most active during the winter months.
Vomiting and diarrhea appear within 1 to 3 days of exposure.
Viral gastroenteritis is often mistakenly called “stomach flu,”
but it is not caused by the influenza virus and it does not
infect the stomach. Also, viral gastroenteritis is not caused by
bacteria or parasites.
Transmission
Viral gastroenteritis is highly contagious. The viruses are
commonly transmitted by people with unwashed hands. People
can get the viruses through close contact with infected
individuals by sharing their food, drink, or eating utensils, or
by eating food or drinking beverages that are contaminated
with the virus. Noroviruses in particular, are typically spread to
other people by contact with stool or vomit of infected people
and through contaminated water or food—especially oysters
from contaminated waters.
People who no longer have symptoms may still be contagious,
since the virus can be found in their stool for up to 2 weeks
after they recover from their illness. Also, people can become
infected without having symptoms and they can still spread
the infection.
Outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis can occur in households,
child care settings, schools, nursing homes, cruise ships,
camps, dormitories, restaurants, and other places where
people gather in groups. If you suspect that you were
exposed to a virus in one of these settings or by foods
prepared on the premise of places such as a restaurant, deli,
or bakery, you may want to contact your local health
department, which tracks outbreaks.
Diagnosis
If you think you have viral gastroenteritis, you may want to
see your doctor. Doctors generally diagnose viral
gastroenteritis based on the symptoms and a physical
examination. Your doctor may ask for a stool sample to test
for rotavirus or to rule out bacteria or parasites as the cause
of your symptoms. No routine tests are currently available for
the other types of viruses.
Treatment
Most cases of viral gastroenteritis resolve over time without
specific treatment. Antibiotics are not effective against viral
infections. The primary goal of treatment is to reduce the
symptoms, and prompt treatment may be needed to prevent
dehydration.
Your body needs fluids to function. Dehydration is the loss of
fluids from the body. Important salts or minerals, known as
electrolytes, can also be lost with the fluids. Dehydration can
be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, excessive urination,
excessive sweating, or by not drinking enough fluids because
of nausea, difficulty swallowing, or loss of appetite.
In viral gastroenteritis, the combination of diarrhea and
vomiting can cause dehydration. The symptoms of
dehydration are
* excessive thirst
* dry mouth
* little or no urine or dark yellow urine
* decreased tears
* severe weakness or lethargy
* dizziness or lightheadedness
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should talk to your
doctor. Mild dehydration can be treated by drinking liquids.
Severe dehydration may require intravenous fluids and
hospitalization. Untreated severe dehydration can be life
threatening.
Children present special concerns. Because of their smaller
body size, infants and children are at greater risk of
dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting. Oral rehydration
solutions such as Pedialyte can replace lost fluids, minerals,
and salts.
The following steps may help relieve the symptoms of viral
gastroenteritis.
* Allow your gastrointestinal tract to settle by not eating for a
few hours.
* Sip small amounts of clear liquids or suck on ice chips if
vomiting is still a problem.
* Give infants and children oral rehydration solutions to
replace fluids and lost electrolytes.
* Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-
digest food, like toast, broth, apples, bananas, and rice.
* Avoid dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol until recovery is
complete.
* Get plenty of rest.
Prevention
Prevention is the best way to avoid viral gastroenteritis by
following the tips listed below. No vaccine is available for viral
gastroenteritis with the exception of a newly released
rotavirus vaccine called Rotateq. The oral vaccine for infants
aged 6 to 32 weeks was approved in February 2006 by the U.
S. Food and Drug Administration. Otherwise, you can avoid
infection by:
* washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after using
the bathroom or changing diapers
* washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds before eating
* disinfecting contaminated surfaces such as counter tops and
baby changing stations
* not eating or drinking foods or liquids that might be
contaminated
Content Credit NDDIC
different viruses. Highly contagious, viral gastroenteritis is the
second most common illness in the United States. It causes
millions of cases of diarrhea each year.
Anyone can get viral gastroenteritis and most people recover
without any complications. However, viral gastroenteritis can
be serious when people cannot drink enough fluids to replace
what is lost through vomiting and diarrhea�especially infants,
young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune
systems.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea
and vomiting. Other symptoms are headache, fever, chills, and
abdominal pain. Symptoms usually appear within 4 to 48
hours after exposure to the virus and last for 1 to 2 days,
though symptoms can last as long as 10 days.
Causes
The viruses that cause viral gastroenteritis damage the cells in
the lining of the small intestine. As a result, fluids leak from
the cells into the intestine and produce watery diarrhea. Four
types of viruses cause most viral gastroenteritis.
* Rotavirus is the leading cause among children 3 to 15
months old and the most common cause of diarrhea in
children under the age of 5 years. Symptoms of rotavirus
infection appear 1 to 2 days after exposure. Rotavirus typically
causes vomiting and watery diarrhea for 3 to 8 days, along
with fever and abdominal pain. Rotavirus can also infect adults
who are in close contact with infected children, but the
symptoms in adults are milder. In the United States, rotavirus
infections are most common from November to April.
* Adenovirus occurs mainly in children under the age of 2
years. Of the 49 types of adenoviruses, one strain affects the
gastrointestinal tract causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms typically appear 1 week after exposure. Adenovirus
infections occur year round.
* Caliciviruses cause infection in people of all ages. This family
of viruses is divided into 4 types, the noroviruses being the
most common and most responsible for infecting people. The
noroviruses are usually responsible for epidemics of viral
gastroenteritis and occur more frequently from October to
April. Infected people experience vomiting and diarrhea,
fatigue, headache, and sometimes muscle aches. The
symptoms appear within 1 to 3 days of exposure.
* Astrovirus also infects primarily infants, young children, and
the elderly. This virus is most active during the winter months.
Vomiting and diarrhea appear within 1 to 3 days of exposure.
Viral gastroenteritis is often mistakenly called “stomach flu,”
but it is not caused by the influenza virus and it does not
infect the stomach. Also, viral gastroenteritis is not caused by
bacteria or parasites.
Transmission
Viral gastroenteritis is highly contagious. The viruses are
commonly transmitted by people with unwashed hands. People
can get the viruses through close contact with infected
individuals by sharing their food, drink, or eating utensils, or
by eating food or drinking beverages that are contaminated
with the virus. Noroviruses in particular, are typically spread to
other people by contact with stool or vomit of infected people
and through contaminated water or food—especially oysters
from contaminated waters.
People who no longer have symptoms may still be contagious,
since the virus can be found in their stool for up to 2 weeks
after they recover from their illness. Also, people can become
infected without having symptoms and they can still spread
the infection.
Outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis can occur in households,
child care settings, schools, nursing homes, cruise ships,
camps, dormitories, restaurants, and other places where
people gather in groups. If you suspect that you were
exposed to a virus in one of these settings or by foods
prepared on the premise of places such as a restaurant, deli,
or bakery, you may want to contact your local health
department, which tracks outbreaks.
Diagnosis
If you think you have viral gastroenteritis, you may want to
see your doctor. Doctors generally diagnose viral
gastroenteritis based on the symptoms and a physical
examination. Your doctor may ask for a stool sample to test
for rotavirus or to rule out bacteria or parasites as the cause
of your symptoms. No routine tests are currently available for
the other types of viruses.
Treatment
Most cases of viral gastroenteritis resolve over time without
specific treatment. Antibiotics are not effective against viral
infections. The primary goal of treatment is to reduce the
symptoms, and prompt treatment may be needed to prevent
dehydration.
Your body needs fluids to function. Dehydration is the loss of
fluids from the body. Important salts or minerals, known as
electrolytes, can also be lost with the fluids. Dehydration can
be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, excessive urination,
excessive sweating, or by not drinking enough fluids because
of nausea, difficulty swallowing, or loss of appetite.
In viral gastroenteritis, the combination of diarrhea and
vomiting can cause dehydration. The symptoms of
dehydration are
* excessive thirst
* dry mouth
* little or no urine or dark yellow urine
* decreased tears
* severe weakness or lethargy
* dizziness or lightheadedness
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should talk to your
doctor. Mild dehydration can be treated by drinking liquids.
Severe dehydration may require intravenous fluids and
hospitalization. Untreated severe dehydration can be life
threatening.
Children present special concerns. Because of their smaller
body size, infants and children are at greater risk of
dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting. Oral rehydration
solutions such as Pedialyte can replace lost fluids, minerals,
and salts.
The following steps may help relieve the symptoms of viral
gastroenteritis.
* Allow your gastrointestinal tract to settle by not eating for a
few hours.
* Sip small amounts of clear liquids or suck on ice chips if
vomiting is still a problem.
* Give infants and children oral rehydration solutions to
replace fluids and lost electrolytes.
* Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-
digest food, like toast, broth, apples, bananas, and rice.
* Avoid dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol until recovery is
complete.
* Get plenty of rest.
Prevention
Prevention is the best way to avoid viral gastroenteritis by
following the tips listed below. No vaccine is available for viral
gastroenteritis with the exception of a newly released
rotavirus vaccine called Rotateq. The oral vaccine for infants
aged 6 to 32 weeks was approved in February 2006 by the U.
S. Food and Drug Administration. Otherwise, you can avoid
infection by:
* washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after using
the bathroom or changing diapers
* washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds before eating
* disinfecting contaminated surfaces such as counter tops and
baby changing stations
* not eating or drinking foods or liquids that might be
contaminated
Content Credit NDDIC
| MEDICAL NOTES |
DISEASES AND
CONDITIONS
Acidosis
Acne
Acromegaly
Addison's Disease
Adrenal Crisis
Age. macular degn
Alzheimer's disease
Autoimmune
Hepatitis
Barrett's Esophagus
Cancer
Constipation
Colon Polyps
Crohns Disease
Cushing's Syndrm.
Diabetes
Erectile Dysfunction
Fecal Incontinence
Gallstones
Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Gastroesophageal
Reflux (GERD)
Growth Hormone
Def.
Heartburn
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypertension
Inflam. Bowel Dis.
Kidney Stone
Liver Cirrhosis
Migraines
Multiple Sclerosis
Obesity
Osteorithritis
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
Parkinson's Disease
Peyronies' Disease
Prolactinoma
Psoriasis
Sprain and Strain
Stroke
Ulcerative Colitis
Urin. Incontinence
Vitiligo
CONDITIONS
Acidosis
Acne
Acromegaly
Addison's Disease
Adrenal Crisis
Age. macular degn
Alzheimer's disease
Autoimmune
Hepatitis
Barrett's Esophagus
Cancer
Constipation
Colon Polyps
Crohns Disease
Cushing's Syndrm.
Diabetes
Erectile Dysfunction
Fecal Incontinence
Gallstones
Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Gastroesophageal
Reflux (GERD)
Growth Hormone
Def.
Heartburn
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypertension
Inflam. Bowel Dis.
Kidney Stone
Liver Cirrhosis
Migraines
Multiple Sclerosis
Obesity
Osteorithritis
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
Parkinson's Disease
Peyronies' Disease
Prolactinoma
Psoriasis
Sprain and Strain
Stroke
Ulcerative Colitis
Urin. Incontinence
Vitiligo