Menu
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

Home > Digestive > Conditions > Gastroenteritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Gastroenteritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Updated on September 23, 2022
5 min read
By Obaid Rehman, MD | Internal Medicine  and Inderbir Padda, MD | Internist

In this article:

  • Causes of Gastroenteritis
  • Symptoms of Gastroenteritis
  • Treatment for Gastroenteritis
  • Diagnosing Gastroenteritis
  • Foods to Avoid During Gastroenteritis
  • Best Preventive Tips for Gastroenteritis
  • Risk Factors for Gastroenteritis
  • Most-Asked Questions About Gastroenteritis
  • Final Word

Gastroenteritis is characterized by inflammation/irritation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, generally caused by infectious pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) or noninfectious agents (heavy metals, chemicals, medications).

treating gastroenteritis

Viral gastroenteritis is the most common infectious cause of gastroenteritis and is a frequent cause of visits to hospitals and clinics.

Causes of Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is commonly caused by infectious pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Other noninfectious causes include chemicals and heavy metals, such as lead and certain medications (colchicine, digoxin, antibiotics, antihelminthics, antacids, laxatives, radiation, and chemotherapy).

Ingestion of certain plants (oleander, foxglove, hemlock) and mushrooms may also result in gastroenteritis along with other harmful manifestations. (1)(2)

Advertisements
causes behind gastroenteritis

Notable infectious pathogens include:

Bacteria:

  • Campylobacter
  • Salmonella
  • Shigella
  • Yersinia
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Escherichia coli
  • Clostridium difficile
  • Clostridium perfringens

Viruses:

  • Norovirus
  • Calicivirus
  • Rotavirus
  • Astrovirus
  • Adenovirus

Parasites:

  • Entamoeba histolytica
  • Giardia lamblia
  • Cryptosporidium

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis

The GI symptoms of gastroenteritis can range from mild to moderate to severe depending on the infectious etiology and person affected. Individuals with a compromised immune system or on immunosuppressive therapy may be more susceptible to more severe GI infections and manifestations.

Mild/moderate symptoms include:

Advertisements
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Abdominal pain (3)
  • Diarrhea (3)
  • Vomiting (3)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Bloating

In severe cases, the symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Body aches
  • Chills
  • Tachycardia
  • Hypotension
  • Profuse watery diarrhea or bloody diarrhea (1)(2)

Treatment for Gastroenteritis

how to treat gastroenteritis?

Treatment for gastroenteritis usually consists of ensuring proper hydration by drinking plenty of water, electrolyte drinks, and/or oral rehydration drinks. In severe cases, individuals can be admitted to the hospital and receive an intravenous fluid drip for fluids, (4) vitamins, and nutrients.

If the pathogen is confirmed as bacterial, the patient can receive antibiotics. Alternatively, a parasitic pathogen can be treated with medical therapy.

Diagnosing Gastroenteritis

A diagnosis of gastroenteritis is achieved by the physician first taking a full history of the present illness, symptoms, and/or any treatments attempted.

Laboratory examination is usually not required. However, in some serious cases with blood in the stool or high fever, a stool culture can be obtained to narrow down to a specific diagnosis.

Testing for ova and parasites in the stool can also be helpful. Ultrasounds, X-rays, or CT scans are not usually helpful in achieving a diagnosis.

Advertisements

Foods to Avoid During Gastroenteritis

Individuals suffering from gastroenteritis should not consume any food for a few hours. Instead, it is recommended to sip on plenty of fluids during this time to prevent dehydration.

When introducing food back into the diet, it is preferred to start with soft, easily digestible foods first, such as Jell-O, soda crackers, bananas, mashed potatoes, toast, nuts, and rice.

Best Preventive Tips for Gastroenteritis

tips to prevent gastroenteritis

The best prevention for gastroenteritis is frequent handwashing in the following conditions:

  • Before and after handling food
  • Treating wounds for a sick individual
  • Handling contact lenses
  • After using the toilet or changing a diaper
  • After petting animals
  • After handling garbage
  • Coughing or sneezing

Using soap and water is the best way to wash your hands thoroughly and effectively. A hand sanitizer is a good alternative if you are unable to wash your hands.

Risk Factors for Gastroenteritis

There are several risk factors for gastroenteritis, including:

  • Not washing hands frequently
  • Exposure to an individual with bacterial gastroenteritis in places such as a daycare
  • Undercooked meat or poultry (5)
  • Unpasteurized dairy products (5)
  • Raw shellfish
  • Community outbreaks
  • Animal exposure in petting zoos, farms, etc.
  • Exposure to freshwater
  • International travel

Most-Asked Questions About Gastroenteritis

general queries about gastroenteritis

How long does gastroenteritis last?

Gastroenteritis is ordinarily a self-limiting illness that may not need supportive management in otherwise healthy people.

Depending on the etiology and type of infectious gastroenteritis, the GI manifestations can appear from hours to days after exposure to the pathogen and may persist for a day or two. Symptoms may also last for longer durations, up to 10 days depending on the individual. (6)

What is the difference between gastroenteritis and stomach flu?

“Stomach flu” is another term used for gastroenteritis and is caused by infectious agents/pathogens. Stomach flu is not caused by the influenza virus, the respiratory virus that causes “the flu.”

Advertisements

Is gastroenteritis contagious?

Gastroenteritis is contagious and can vary depending on the viral pathogen. Norovirus is a common virus that causes gastroenteritis that can be contagious from symptom onset to a few days after recovery.

Additionally, this virus can remain in the stool for up to 2 weeks. Rotavirus is another common viral pathogen that causes gastroenteritis that is also contagious up to 2 weeks after recovery. (7)

Final Word

It is important to practice preventative measures such as observing proper hygiene, practicing regular handwashing with soap, and maintaining distance from individuals who may have gastroenteritis or “stomach flu” or exhibiting GI symptoms (abdominal cramps/pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with gastroenteritis, is vital to keep your distance from others to further prevent community spread. It is essential to stay well hydrated with sports drinks that contain electrolytes and avoid high-sugar beverages, as the majority of gastroenteritis cases are self-limited.

Advertisements

In severe gastroenteritis cases causing profuse or bloody diarrhea, volume depletion, tachycardia, hypotension, altered mental status, dry mouth, and decreased urine output, a visit to the emergency department or hospital may be warranted.

References
  1. Gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis – Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/gastroenteritis.
  2. Drug-Related Gastroenteritis and Chemical-Related Gastroenteritis By Thomas G. Boyce, By, Boyce TG, Last full review/revision Jun 2019| Content last modified Jun 2019. Drug-Related Gastroenteritis and Chemical-Related Gastroenteritis – Gastrointestinal Disorders. Merck Manuals Professional Edition. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/gastroenteritis/drug-related-gastroenteritis-and-chemical-related-gastroenteritis.
  3. Ghoshal UC, Ghoshal U, Mathur A, et al. The Spectrum of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients With Coronavirus Disease-19: Predictors, Relationship With Disease Severity, and Outcome. Clinical and translational gastroenterology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7678797/. Published December 2020.
  4. National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health (UK). Fluid management. Diarrhoea and Vomiting Caused by Gastroenteritis: Diagnosis, Assessment and Management in Children Younger than 5 Years. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK63837/.
  5. Krenzer ME. Viral gastroenteritis in the adult population: the GI peril. Critical care nursing clinics of North America. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7172911. Published December 2012.
  6. Woods TA. Diarrhea. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK414/. Published January 1, 1990.
  7. Stuempfig ND. Viral Gastroenteritis. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK518995/. Published November 19, 2020.
  • Was this article helpful?
  • YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
Spread the Love❤️
Advertisements

You Might Also Like

Nutrition

6 Ways to Use Common Salt for Your Health

By Shiza Khan, M.Sc. – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

Read more

Newsletter

Get our BEST updates delivered to your inbox:



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Categories

  • Nutrition
  • Wellness
  • Oral Care
  • Eye Care
  • Heart Health
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Women’s Health
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Respiratory Health
  • Web Stories

Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
eMediHealth

This site provides content for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended for use as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In case of a medical concern or emergency, please consult your healthcare provider.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation.

Our Network: Little Extra

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Nutrition
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Yoga & Meditation
  • Women’s Health
  • Heart Health
  • Allergy & Immunology
  • Bones & Joints
  • Child Health
  • Digestive
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Eye Care
  • Glands & Hormones
  • Health News
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mental Health
  • Nervous System
  • Oral Care
  • Pain Management
  • Respiratory Health
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Urological Health
  • Web Stories

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.