Gastroenteritis Flashcards
What is the clinical diagnosis of gastroenteritis?
3 or more loose stools per day with at least one of the following: abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, blood or mucus in the stool.
What is the most common cause of gastroenteritis?
Viral causes are more common than bacterial causes.
What are the most common virus which cause gastroenteritis?
Rotovirus, norovirus and adenovirus.
Noro virus - a predominantly vomiting illness.
How many particles of norovirus are needed for infection?
18 particles - highly infectious.
What are the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis?
Campylobacter (jejuni 90%, coli 10%) - most common
Salmonella - most common cause of hospitilization
E.Coli
What is a complication of E.Coli infection apart from gastroenteritis?
Shiga toxin destroys red blood cells, giving haemolytic uraemia syndrome.
What is the incubation period and period of illness for campylobacter infection?
incubation period = 2-5 days
symptoms resolve = 3-6 days
stools clear = 6 weeks
Which viral cause is most common in children?
Rotovirus
Which viral cause is most common in adults?
Norovirus
What is the incubation period and period of illness for salmonella?
Incubation = 1-2 days
symptoms resolve = 1 week
What is the incubation period for E.Coli and the period of illness?
Incubation period = 3-4 days (can be between 1-10)
Period of illness = 5-10 days
stools clear = over 20 weeks
What length of time of diarrhoea makes gastroenteritis unlikely?
When symptoms persist over 2 weeks.
What antibiotics should be avoided to prevent C.Diff infection?
4 C’s.
Cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, co-amoxiclav, clindamycin.
When are antibiotics used in gastroenteritis?
Only once stool culture and causative organisms have been confirmed, if complications are likely, if the patient is immune compromised.
Where is salmonella found?
In raw poultry, raw eggs and food contaminated with animal faeces.
