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What is Acute Gastroenteritis?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Acute gastroenteritis, often referred to simply as the stomach flu, is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is typically caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite, and symptoms include sudden diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Acute gastroenteritis is quite common among children, though adults can suffer from it as well. Most cases last only a few days, during which time it is important for the patient to stay hydrated. If the symptoms do not go away within a week, a patient should contact a healthcare provider to see if additional treatment is required.

Causes

Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by a bacterial infection, like Salmonella.
Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by a bacterial infection, like Salmonella.

A bacterial infection is one of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis, and food-borne bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter account for many of these cases. Infection by parasites like giardia can cause acute gastroenteritis that lasts for several weeks. Viruses can also cause a stomach flu, particularly rotaviruses and noroviruses. All of these microorganisms can spread when someone who is sick does not wash his or her hands thoroughly and touches a surface, like a doorknob, leaving the microbes behind for the next person who touches it. They can also contaminate food and water.

An improperly cooked cheeseburger could give a diner food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis.
An improperly cooked cheeseburger could give a diner food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis.

Because gastroenteritis is a condition rather than a disease, it can also be caused in other ways. Accidental poisoning or exposure to toxins, for example, may also cause an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, as can some medications. Other medical problems, including an intolerance to certain foods and Crohn's disease, can also cause this condition.

Symptoms

Hydration is important when suffering from acute gastoenteritis.
Hydration is important when suffering from acute gastoenteritis.

This condition causes diarrhea in almost all cases. In many instances, this is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, as well as a fever. More extreme cases can also result in blood in the stool of the person suffering from it; this can be a sign of a serious problem so the patient should contact a healthcare professional. Gastroenteritis is considered acute if the symptoms come on very suddenly and go away after a short amount of time.

Options for Treatment

Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by contaminated drinking water.
Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by contaminated drinking water.

In most cases, acute gastroenteritis can be treated successfully at home. There are numerous medications readily available to help treat stomach upset and distress. Painkillers can also be used to reduce fever and stomach cramps. One of the biggest dangers of gastroenteritis is dehydration caused by the water loss of vomiting and diarrhea, so it is important for the patient to drink plenty of fluids. Symptoms should pass within about five days.

IV fluids may be given to treat acute gastroenteritis.
IV fluids may be given to treat acute gastroenteritis.

When a person does not recover from stomach flu symptoms within a week or so, it is usually a good idea to see a healthcare provider. Some types of acute gastroenteritis cannot be cured without medication, especially when caused by bacteria or exposure to parasites. A medical professional may need to diagnose the exact cause by analyzing a stool sample, especially if stomach symptoms continue over an extended period of time. Someone who is unable to even drink water without vomiting should seek help quickly, as it may be necessary to give the patient intravenous (IV) fluids to replace what has been lost.

Ways To Prevent Gastroenteritis

Stomach cramping is a symptom of acute gastroenteritis.
Stomach cramping is a symptom of acute gastroenteritis.

One of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis is eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with bacteria or parasites. For example, eating undercooked hamburger might lead to exposure to E. coli, a potentially lethal bacteria. Drinking improperly treated water, or drinking from streams and lakes, can expose someone to the giardia parasite. Avoiding raw and uncooked meats, handling dairy and cooked foods properly, and filtering or sterilizing water before drinking it can help prevent exposure to harmful organisms.

Fever can be a symptom of gastroenteritis.
Fever can be a symptom of gastroenteritis.

Even through causes for acute gastroenteritis vary, the methods of transmission from one person to another tend to be the same. Contact with the fecal matter of a person with the condition, followed by improper or lack of hand-washing, spreads the microorganisms that cause it easily. People who are ill, as well as those around them, should wash their hands thoroughly and regularly to help prevent spreading the illness to others.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon66295

Please explain the patho of ACE. Thanks

anon66177

what is the pathophysiology of acute gastroenteritis and it's schemic diagram?

anon47250

what really causes acute gastroenteritis?

anon44235

what are the common medications used in treating gastroenteritis?

anon36543

what is the pathophysio of acute gastroenterities?

anon36388

can anybody provide a tabular form of the physical assessment of acute gastroenteritis?

anon7161

can make an diagram for the pathophysiology of gastroenteritis?

anon3495

pathophysiology of acute gastroenteritis?

anon2454

What is the pathophysiology of acute gastroenteritis?

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    • Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by a bacterial infection, like Salmonella.
      By: Lyuba Bunakova
      Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by a bacterial infection, like Salmonella.
    • An improperly cooked cheeseburger could give a diner food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis.
      By: Gena
      An improperly cooked cheeseburger could give a diner food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis.
    • Hydration is important when suffering from acute gastoenteritis.
      By: studiovespa
      Hydration is important when suffering from acute gastoenteritis.
    • Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by contaminated drinking water.
      By: polepoletochan
      Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by contaminated drinking water.
    • IV fluids may be given to treat acute gastroenteritis.
      By: arztsamui
      IV fluids may be given to treat acute gastroenteritis.
    • Stomach cramping is a symptom of acute gastroenteritis.
      By: Dessie
      Stomach cramping is a symptom of acute gastroenteritis.
    • Fever can be a symptom of gastroenteritis.
      By: evgenyatamanenko
      Fever can be a symptom of gastroenteritis.
    • Nausea and dizziness are two symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.
      By: Valua Vitaly
      Nausea and dizziness are two symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.
    • The Giardia parasite can cause acute gastroenteritis.
      By: Iqbal Osman
      The Giardia parasite can cause acute gastroenteritis.
    • Acute gastroenteritis may cause excessive vomiting.
      By: Tom Wang
      Acute gastroenteritis may cause excessive vomiting.
    • Stool samples that are collected at home are usually placed into plastic containers.
      By: luchschen_shutter
      Stool samples that are collected at home are usually placed into plastic containers.
    • Sudden diarrhea is a symptom of acute gastroenteritis.
      By: Africa Studio
      Sudden diarrhea is a symptom of acute gastroenteritis.