Symptoms of gastroenteritis, its treatment and prevention

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation that occurs in the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. Infectious gastroenteritis is one of the variants of this disease, in which the inflammatory process develops due to the attachment of some infection. Mostly this disease is contagious, but sometimes it appears for other reasons.

The following factors can trigger the development of gastroenteritis:

• Violation of diet;
• Poisoning with expired or substandard products;
• Getting into the body of viruses, bacteria;
• Overeating, insufficient intake of liquid;
• Long-term antibiotic treatment, disrupting the balance of intestinal microflora.

Rotavirus, calcevirus, astrovirus and adenovirus are the most common causes of gastroenteritis. Less common is bacterial gastroenteritis. Intestinal parasites can also enter the intestinal mucosa, which are transmitted from one person to another or through dirty water.

The main symptoms of gastroenteritis

Pathology manifests itself quickly and dramatically. With timely access to medical care, the disease lasts for a short time and proceeds in a mild form. If treatment is not performed or is not properly prescribed, then it can go into a more complex form. Recognize the disease can be on the following grounds:

• Sharp and severe pain in abdominal cramping;
• Rapid development of the disease;
• Decreased appetite;
• Nausea and vomiting that cause dehydration;
• Severe dizziness, loss of consciousness, sometimes there are convulsions (these are the most dangerous symptoms of gastroenteritis);
• Increased frequency and loss of pulse;
• Pallor of the skin;
• Bloating, gas in the stomach, frequent heartburn;
• diarrhea; A mucus-like liquid stool, sometimes with bloody discharge;
• With infectious gastroenteritis the temperature rises.

If you have any symptoms of gastroenteritis, you should immediately call your doctor. With dizziness and fainting it is necessary to call a doctor at home, as these signs are a serious threat to human health.

How gastroenteritis is treated

Treatment of this disease involves a set of measures. Therapy depends on the cause that caused inflammation and the stage of the disease. At home, you can use and folk remedies. When severe symptoms of gastroenteritis (high fever, nausea, frequent loose stools) have already been removed, the patient can help her digestive system recover with a specific diet and herbal decoctions. An excellent means for fighting the disease will be tincture of mint, compote from fresh cranberries and a decoction of St. John's wort. A healthy dish for the digestive system during treatment will be a thick oatmeal on the water.

How to protect yourself from gastroenteritis

To prevent it is very difficult, since viruses are fairly easily transmitted from one person to another. However, it is worthwhile to observe some preventive measures during interaction with people. Hand washing and disinfection of premises are necessary in places of congestion of people, for example, in kindergartens. If signs of gastroenteritis are present, the child should be removed from the institution. When eating at meals, you should take a more careful look at the choice of dishes.