Intestinal infection is a disease that affects all age groups, although it is more common in children. It causes discomfort such as diarrhea and vomiting and restricts daily life. This disease, which can also be contagious, poses a risk to public health.
What is Intestinal Infection?
Intestinal infection or other gastroenteritis; It occurs when the intestine is infected by a virus, bacteria or parasite. Viral and bacterial infections are more common than parasitic infections. Common symptoms of gastroenteritis:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea, vomiting
- Fever
- Appetite and weight loss
- Muscle pains
- Dehydration
- Headaches
Dehydration is a picture that occurs as a result of excessive fluid loss from the body. Conditions such as vomiting and diarrhea seen in gastroenteritis cause excessive fluid and salt loss from the body. Especially in the presence of intestinal infection in infants, dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea can develop very quickly. While dehydration causes symptoms such as excessive thirst at first, as fluid and mineral loss increases, it leads to conditions such as dry mouth, drowsiness, decrease in tears, and sunken eyeballs. In cases where the fluid loss table gets worse, acceleration in the pulse, deep and rapid breathing, and inability to urinate can be seen. Dehydration can become so severe that it can cause shock and can reach a level that can be life-threatening. For this reason, people with signs of dehydration should apply to the nearest health institution.
Is Intestinal Infection Contagious?
Intestinal infection is a contagious disease. All of the food contaminated with the causative agent Intestinal infection may occur in cases such as coughing, seeing the hands that have been in contact with the agent, and close contact with the infected person. Behaviors such as drinking water and cooking in areas where clean drinking water is not available increase the risk of infection. Where personal hygiene is not good enough, the infection can spread between people. As a result of using water contaminated with one of the pathogens that cause intestinal infection, in food preparation, infection may occur in people who consume the food. Compliance with the general cleaning rules is a very effective method in preventing intestinal infection. It is very important to wash hands, especially before eating, after using the toilet or changing the baby's diaper. Conditions such as the clean water to be used, the use of water with a known source, and the proper disinfection of water in places such as pools are also protective in terms of infections that can be transmitted through water. Washing vegetables and fruits with plenty of water before consumption, consuming animal foods such as meat and eggs by cooking them thoroughly, storing the food in suitable conditions after cooking, using pasteurized milk and dairy products are also issues to be considered in preventing intestinal infections.
What Causes Intestinal Infection?
Intestinal infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. There are many different types of bacteria that lead to the development of gastroenteritis. E. coli bacteria, which is one of the most common bacteria in intestinal infection; It leads to a picture of abdominal pain, bloody stool and vomiting symptoms. This bacterium can be taken into the body by consuming foods that have been in contact with animal manure. Salmonella, another common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, enters the body as a result of consuming animal foods such as raw or undercooked meat and eggs. Shigella is a bacterium that enters the body through water sources such as swimming pools and causes intestinal infection.
Viral gastroenteritis is a disease that can affect people of all ages and is frequently encountered in the community. norovirus; It is a highly contagious intestinal infection that causes fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and body aches. The virus into the body; It can be transmitted through contaminated food, surfaces, and people carrying the virus. This The virus can spread easily in crowded places, leading to epidemics. Outbreaks are especially observed in the November-April period. Rotavirus ranks first among the causes of intestinal infections in children. The virus enters the body when children touch an object contaminated with the virus and then put their hands in their mouth. After about two days, a picture of watery diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite occurs. Rotavirus vaccine, which is a very effective method to prevent this situation, is available in our country. For ideal vaccination, vaccination should be started between the 2nd and 3rd month.
Intestinal infections caused by parasites are not common, but can cause significant problems. The parasite, called giardia, can be transmitted to people through human contact, as well as water sources and swimming pools. Infection of the intestines with this parasite also leads to gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis caused by the parasite called Entamoeba Histolytica is known as amoebic dysentery. This parasite, which causes bloody diarrhea, can be easily taken into the body from contaminated food.
The patient's history and examination are usually sufficient for the diagnosis of intestinal infection. However, further investigations may be required in cases where treatment planning is planned for the causative agent of the infection. The most commonly used methods in the diagnosis of gastroenteritis are stool examination and culture. Thanks to these methods, the type of bacteria or parasite causing the infection can be determined and appropriate treatment can be started. In addition to these methods, serological tests, PCR, pathological examinations can also be applied for diagnosis.
What's Good for Intestinal Infection?
Gastroenteritis usually heals spontaneously without the need for additional treatment. There is no definite answer to the question 'How long does a bowel infection last?'. Recovery time varies depending on the pathogen causing the disease and the patient's immune system. The use of antibiotics does not contribute to the healing of viral and parasitic intestinal infections. The use of antibiotics in some bacterial intestinal infections may lead to prolongation of the recovery period and the recurrence of the disease. cause problems, which can have serious consequences. For this reason, the use of antibiotics for the treatment of intestinal infection must be carried out with the knowledge and approval of the doctor. The drugs used in the treatment of intestinal infection are aimed at reducing or eliminating the symptoms. Although diarrhea is the most common symptom in gastroenteritis, the use of antidiarrheal drugs is not recommended. Since the use of these drugs may delay the elimination of the pathogen causing the disease from the body, they should not be used. It is recommended that people with diarrhea feed frequently and avoid fatty and fibrous foods that will accelerate bowel movements. In the child age group, where diarrhea and loss of appetite can often be seen, it is recommended to add watery foods that the child likes to the diet. Foods that are both nutritious and high in liquid content, such as yoghurt and ayran, are recommended during diarrhea. It may also be beneficial to consume foods such as lean meat and fruit juice to meet the amount of energy the child needs. Since raw vegetables and fruits contain high amounts of fiber, they can accelerate bowel movements and cause diarrhea. Consumption of this food group should be interrupted during diarrhea. Babies with diarrhea should continue to be breastfed and receive enough breast milk. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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