Gastroenteritis Flashcards
What is gastroenteritis?
Gastritis - inflammation of the stomach causing nausea and vomiting
Enteritis - gastritis of the intestines causing diarrhoea
Gastroenteritis - inflammation from the stomach to intestines - causing vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea.
What is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in children?
rotavirus
What is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in adults?
norovirus
What are the main signs of gastroenteritis?
nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea
What are the viral causes of gastroenteritis?
Rotavirus
Norovirus
adenovirus
what are the bacterial causes of gastroenteritis?
staphylococcus aureus bacillus cereus clostridium perfringens campylobacter jejuni Ecoli Ecoli 0157 salmonella shigella
What is a complication of E.coli 0157?
produces shiga toxin causing haemolytic uraemia syndrome
When are antibiotics avoided?
When E.coli could be the cause
Who commonly gets campylobacter jejuni?
Travellers from raw poultry, untreated water and unpasteurised milk
Which bacteria can produce shiga toxin?
shigella
E.Coli 0157 - causes haemolytic uraemia syndrome
Which bacteria can produce shiga toxin?
shigella
E.Coli 0157 - causes haemolytic uraemia syndrome
how is salmonella spread?
raw eggs or poultry
Associated with Watery diarrhoea
how is bacillus cereus spread?
through reheated rice
how is staphylococcus aureus spread?
through cooked meats and creams
how is clostridium per fringes spread?
through reheated meat
How is gastroenteritis managed?
Fluid replacement
oral rehydration packets (dioralite)
before fluid is given what should be done?
fluid challenge - if they can tolerate fluid consider treating at home, if they can’t tolerate fluid consider IV fluid
What investigations can be done?
fluid challenge
Stool sample - microscopy, culture and sensitivities
When can antibiotics be given?
If the cause is not E.Coli
ONLY once antibiotic sensitivities and causative organism has been found
Only given in severe infection or when theres a risk of co morbidities
what is checked for in a stool sample?
antibiotic sensitivity
microscopy
culture
How long should the patient stay off school/work?
At least 48hrs after symptoms have resolved
What are post gastroenteritis complications?
IBS
Reactive arthritis
Guillain-barre syndrome
lactose intolerance (that improves over time)
How is gastroenteritis usually spread?
via the oral-faecal route.
