Rotavirus gastroenteritis in adults - causes, clinical manifestations, treatment

Treatment of acute infectious gastroenteritis in children and adults

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the intestine and stomach is called gastroenteritis. The disease can be caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses. Symptoms of gastroenteritis in children are abdominal pain, loose stools, fever, headache, weakness, irritability, vomiting and flatulence. Pathology can be infectious or caused by food incompatibility (alimentary gastroenteritis). The disease in pediatric practice ranks second after influenza and acute respiratory viral infections. Rotavirus gastroenteritis in adults is subclinical.

Causes of the disease:

non-observance of personal hygiene rules;
expired products;
insufficient heat treatment;
worm infestations;
excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Gastroenteritis of unspecified etiology can be caused by eating disorders, eating too spicy food, and long-term use of certain medications.

The disease most often occurs in people with reduced immunity, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as against the background of hypothermia.

Classification of gastroenteritis

The acute form has three degrees of severity. The first is characterized by slight vomiting and diarrhea. High temperature and symptoms of dehydration are absent. Average degree - diarrhea up to 10 times a day, high temperature, vomiting, pain syndrome. The severe degree is accompanied by pronounced dehydration, high temperature (over 38 degrees), diarrhea (more than 15 times a day) and confusion.

The chronic form of the disease is divided into chronic gastroenteritis without atrophy, with atrophy, gastroenteritis with damage to epithelial cells. The disease has periods of remission and exacerbation. Symptoms of the chronic form are more smoothed. On our website https://dobrobut.com/ you will find answers to many questions, including the duration of the quarantine period for gastroenteritis in kindergarten.

Clinical manifestations of the disease

The incubation period lasts from several hours to three days. The severity of symptoms depends on the cause of the disease. General manifestations:

weakness, general malaise;
headache;
nausea, flatulence;
spastic abdominal pains, heaviness in the stomach area;
high temperature;
vomiting, diarrhea.

Clinical bacterial gastroenteritis is more severe than forms caused by a virus.

With acute gastroenteritis, special attention should be paid to the dehydration of the body, which increases very quickly as a result of uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea. Dehydration is manifested by confusion, convulsions, weakness, tachycardia, and a decrease in blood pressure. The skin becomes dry, turgor is reduced. There is a decrease in the amount of urine up to anuria. Treatment of acute infectious gastroenteritis should primarily be aimed at restoring the body's water-electrolyte balance and eliminating the cause.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis in children

In childhood, bacterial and viral gastroenteritis is very severe. The disease poses a special danger for babies, because in the presence of dehydration, irreversible processes occur in the child's body.

The first symptoms of acute gastroenteritis appear a few hours after infection. The clinic depends on the age of the child, the state of immunity and the type of pathogen. Symptoms of the initial stage:

pain in the stomach, flatulence;
general weakness;
nausea, vomiting;
headache;
diarrhea.

During the development of the disease, the initial manifestations are aggravated by an increase in temperature, a decrease in blood pressure and bradycardia.

How to treat children's gastroenteritis? Broad-spectrum antibiotics and antimicrobial agents are used. It is appropriate to prescribe antiemetics, enterosorbents, antispasmodics, enzymes.

How to confirm the diagnosis of alimentary gastroenteritis

The leading role in making a diagnosis is played by the examination of the patient and the collection of anamnesis. As additional studies, the doctor will prescribe a general analysis of blood, stool, and vomiting

mass After receiving the results, the specialist will draw up a treatment plan and answer all questions.

The diagnosis of alimentary gastroenteritis does not require additional examinations and is made after examining the patient and collecting complaints.

Treatment

At the first manifestations of the disease, it is necessary to limit food consumption and drink more water. Rehydron, oralit and table salt solution will help to fill the fluid loss. You need to drink often, in small portions. Recommended sorbents, enzyme preparations, probiotics, antiemetics, antipyretics. It is important to follow a diet for non-infectious gastroenteritis.

Preventive measures

To prevent gastroenteritis, follow the right lifestyle and rules of personal hygiene, avoid dirty public places and give up bad habits. Prevention of viral gastroenteritis is simple, but effective.