Infective gastroenteritis Flashcards
what is the most common symptom of gastroenteritis?
Acute diarrhoea
What are the symptoms in gastroenteritis?
- Diarrhoea, may have bleeding with it
- Vomiting / nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
what is the duration of gastroenteritis? particularly the diarrhoea.
Typically do not last beyond 2 weeks — If longer than this, start thinking about causes of chronic diarrhoea.
what is the key information about duration that will likely to be gastroenteritis?
Short/sudden illness with fever and abdomenal pain with in 2 to 3 days, start thinking of infection and the symptoms have resolved in a 1 week.
what are the pathogens that are likely to cause gastroenteritis?
Bacteria
virus - rotavirus
protozoa
what are the way people can contract bacteria can cause gastroenteritis?
Ingestion of toxins produced by bacteria, and the bacteria can adhere to the mucosa.
what are the bacteria’s that adhere to the mucosa?
Salmonella, E. coli, Shigella
what are the bacterial toxins that can be ingested?
Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cerus, Clostridium
what are the 3 types of virus that causes gastroenteritis?
Rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus
what are the 3 protozoa that causes gastroenteritis?
Giardialamblia,Cryptosporidium,Entamoeba histolytica
what are the risk factors of gastroenteritis?
- Food‐borne — Eating out, BBQs
- Contaminated water sources
- Travel — A history or travel is a good indication of infection, travel is a common cause of gastrointeritis.
- Daycare / nurseries (rotavirus)
- Nursing homes (norovirus)
- Recent antibiotic use (Clostridium difficile) — with somone who is had prolonged antibiotic use.
How do we manage gastroenteritis?
- Symptoms often spontaneously resolve and disease is self‐limiting
- Avoid anti‐diarrhoea agents in those with fever or bloody diarrhoea — may prolong illness
- Hydration very important
Which groups of people we should be aware of when it comes to managing gastroenteritis?
Exception:bewareinimmunocompromised individuals
