Gastroenteritis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Gastroenteritis is an infectious disease of the digestive tract characterized by vomiting and/or diarrhea. Generally, this disease is not dangerous and can heal in 2-3 days.
This digestive disorder occurs due to viruses, bacteria, or parasites. It can be spread through contaminated food or water. The problem that is also often caused by this disorder is dehydration. Usually due to high frequency of bowel movements (diarrhea) and vomiting.
This disease can attack anyone. Although basically harmless, this condition can be fatal if it affects people who have problems with their immune systems, infants, and the elderly.
Symptom
Symptoms of gastroenteritis include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, fever, headache and loss of appetite. In addition, what you have to watch out for with gastroenteritis is the risk of dehydration that can occur. Dehydration is more common in children.
Signs to watch for include:
- The child looks fussy or very weak
- The eyes look sunken
- In babies, the fontanel looks sunken
- Crying without tears
- Dark yellow urine
- Last urination more than 4 hours before
Reason
Gastroenteritis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, or consumption of certain chemicals. Of all these causes, the most common cause is a viral infection. Germs that cause gastroenteritis usually enter the human body from unhygienic food or contaminated water. In addition, hands that are not thoroughly washed can also be a medium for bacteria or viruses to enter.
Of the various types of viruses that can cause gastroenteritis, the two types most often the cause are:
- Rotavirus. This virus often infects infants and children. This is related to the habit of children who like to put their hands or objects – which could have been contaminated – into their mouths.
- Norovirus. Food poisoning which in turn can cause gastroenteritis is generally caused by this one virus.
Diagnosis
Gastroenteritis is determined by the presence of complaints of vomiting and/or diarrhea more than three times a day. What is meant by diarrhea is defecation with the consistency of liquid feces and is not shaped.
In some conditions, the doctor needs to suggest a stool examination in the laboratory. This can help determine the exact cause of gastroenteritis.
Treatment
Most cases of gastroenteritis are caused by viruses. If a virus is the culprit, gastroenteritis will heal by itself in 2–5 days.
The most important treatment is to prevent dehydration. But what needs to be done to prevent dehydration is to drink ORS every time diarrhea occurs. If it is difficult to drink ORS, it can be replaced by drinking fruit juice or soup.
If a patient with gastroenteritis cannot drink or vomits continuously every time he drinks, then you should immediately take him to the nearest health care center/hospital. Thus the patient can get a replacement fluid through an IV.
If gastroenteritis is caused by bacteria or parasites, the doctor will give antibiotics or anti-parasitics to treat the cause.
Prevention
There are several things that need to be done to prevent gastroenteritis, namely:
- Washing hands with running water and soap every time before eating
- Choose hygienic food for consumption
- In infants, gastroenteritis due to rotavirus can be prevented by rotavirus immunization