Acute Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Acute gastroenteritis usually occurs when a virus or bacteria, or less commonly a parasite, is ingested into the body. It is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Generally, the source is consumption of food prepared or stored under unhygienic conditions. Infectious acute diarrhea is often associated with other clinical features indicating enteric involvement, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramps, bloating, gas, fever, bloody stools, tenesmus, and an urgent need to defecate.

What are the symptoms of the disease? When should one go to the Emergency Service?

Diagnosis is made by detecting the causative agent (virus, bacteria or parasite) of acute intestinal infection as a result of examination of the patient sample with appropriate laboratory methods.

Most cases of acute infectious gastroenteritis are viral.

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis and the second most common cause of acute gastroenteritis hospitalization.

How is the disease treated?

Diagnosis and solution of dehydration are prioritized in treatment. For this reason, oral rehydration is recommended in mild cases and intravenous rehydration in moderate-severe cases.

To prevent excessive fluid and electrolyte loss, nausea-vomiting-controlling medications and antibiotic-specific antibiotics are administered. Apart from this, a diarrhea diet should be followed with fat-free and pulp-free foods until the diarrhea is resolved and the patient should be ensured to drink plenty of fluids by mouth. Fluid and salt loss due to diarrhea is very important.

Dr. Asiye Biryılmaz
Elite Hospital Emergency Service

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