Gastroenteritis Flashcards
What is gastroenteritis?
acute inflammation of stomach/intestines cased by enteric infection by bacteria or virus
What are viral causes of gastroenteritis?
Norovirus
rotavirus
adenovirus
astrovirus
What are bacterial causes of gastroenteritis?
e coli shigella salmonella campylobacter clostridium perfringens, botulism, difficile cholera staph aureus bacilus cereus
What are Sx of gastroenteritis?
Diarrhoea (with or without blood) Vomiting Pain Fever cramps weight loss tenesmus Dehydration
What pathogens cause bloody diarrhoea?
Shigella EHEC e coli campylobacter salmonella c diff
What Ix for suspected gastroenteritis?
stool culture: PCR and immunoassay for pathogens
bloods: looking for elecrolyte abnormalities
ECG
What Rx for gastroenteritis
no Abx unless severe/specific cases
fluids
correct electrolyte abnormalities
Avoid antimotility agents if possible as the diarrhoea will get rid of the toxin
What are complications of campylobacter?
GBS
What are complications of salmonella?
Mets causing osteomyelitis, septic arthritis
What are complications of shigella?
HUS: can cause renal failure so important to measure function
Reactive arthritis
What are complications of E coli?
EHEC makes shiga like toxin which can cause HUS
What is specific Rx of clostridium botulism?
Antitoxin, usually need ICU due to flaccid paralysis causing respiratory failure
What are complications of C diff?
Colonic dilatation, perforation, psuedomembranous colitis
What are DDx for gastroenteritis?
IBD, IBS, other causes (bacterial, viral)
What are risk factors for viral gastroenteritis?
children <5, old age, nursing homes, immunocompromised
