Gastroenteritis arises when a virus or bacteria infects the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea, for example. Although they have different causes, the symptoms are generally very similar, with the main difference between viral and bacterial gastroenteritis being the duration.
If you think you may have gastroenteritis, select your symptoms to find out what the risk is:
- 1. Constant diarrhea Yes No
- 2. Bloody stools Yes No
- 3. Abdominal pain or frequent cramps Yes No
- 4. Nausea and vomiting Yes No
- 5. General malaise and tiredness Yes No
- 6. Fever below 38º C Yes No
- 7. Loss of appetite Yes No
Most cases of gastroenteritis by virus improve after 3 or 4 days, without the need for specific treatment, being just careful to eat a light diet, drink plenty of fluids and rest. Bacterial gastroenteritis cases take longer and may even need antibiotics to improve symptoms.
Thus, if the symptoms do not improve in 3 days, it is advisable to go to the gastroenterologist, general practitioner or pediatrician, in the case of children, to assess whether it is necessary to start treatment with an antibiotic. Here's how to diet for gastroenteritis.
Main causes of gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is more common in children and the elderly due to the greater fragility of the immune system, which can be caused by:
- Virus, which is the most frequent cause of gastroenteritis, which can be Rotavirus, Adenovirus or Norovirus; Bacteria, such as Salmonella sp ., Shigella sp ., Campylobacter sp ., And Escherichia coli ; Parasites, such as Giardia lamblia , Entamoeba coli and Ascaris lumbricoides .
In addition, gastroenteritis can be caused by chemical toxins or medications, but it is more rare to happen. Despite being more frequent in children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, gastroenteritis can happen to anyone, since viruses and bacteria can be easily transmitted when there is poor hygiene, reaching the mouth through hands or food contaminated.
How to prevent
To avoid infection and, consequently, the development of gastroenteritis it is important to wash your hands well after using the bathroom or before cooking, avoid sharing cutlery and other objects with sick people, keeping surfaces clean at home, especially in the kitchen, avoiding eat raw meat and fish or unwashed vegetables.
In addition, in children there is also a high risk of getting gastroenteritis through infection with a virus known as rotavirus. In such cases, it is recommended to vaccinate against the virus, which can usually be done during the first year of life. Know when to get the rotavirus vaccine.
What to do
Most cases of gastroenteritis get better at home, without having to go to the hospital for specific treatment. However, in people with weakened immune systems or when gastroenteritis is being caused by more resistant bacteria, it may be necessary to start an antibiotic or even stay in the hospital to replace the fluids lost with vomiting and diarrhea.
Thus, it is advisable to go to the doctor when the symptoms do not improve after 3 days or when signs such as bloody stools, fever above 38ºC or vomiting and persistent diarrhea appear, which are causing tiredness and dehydration.
The diagnosis is usually made by the general practitioner or pediatrician, in the case of children, only based on the person's symptoms and medical history. In some cases, the doctor may recommend performing a microbiological examination of the stool to identify the bacteria responsible for the infection.
