Gastroenteritis and Infective colitis

Question 1

What is gastroenteritis?

Answer 1

Acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines caused by a pathogen.

Question 2

What are the risk factors?

Answer 2

Contaminated food
Close contact with infected
Poor hygiene
Extreme ages
HIV
Organ transplantation 
Chronic illness

Question 3

What is the epidemiology?

Answer 3

Common- leading cause of mortality worldwide

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis?

Answer 4

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Malaise
Volume depletion
Abdominal pain
Anorexia
Fever

Question 5

What investigations might you do for gastroenteritis?

Answer 5

Stool culture
Rapid antigen testing (Rotavirus or calcivirus)
PCR (Rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, adenovirus)
Viral culture (Infection)
Electron microscopy (Specific virus)
Micro-organisms (Infection)
Bloods (Infection)
CT abdomen (Masses etc.)
Basal metabolic profile (High Na/K, low Na, Metabolic acidosis)
Renal function (Urea, creatinine or ratio may be elevated)

Question 6

How would you manage gastroenteritis?

Answer 6

Oral rehydration therapy
Anti diarrhoeal (like loperamide)
Antiemetic (Like metoclopramide/ ondansetron)

Question 7

What complications might you get from gastroenteritis?

Answer 7

Electrolyte imbalance (ORT)
Renal failure (Acute) (ORT and dialysis)
Food intolerance (Avoidance)

Question 8

What is the prognosis?

Answer 8

Pretty good prognosis

Complete recovery possible