What is gastroenteritis? | For online medical treatment in Yokohama City, first go to the online clinic | Blog

Gastroenteritis is a condition in which inflammation occurs in the stomach, large intestine, and small intestine, and symptoms vary depending on the type, cause, and constitution.

Common symptoms include stomach and intestinal pain, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea.

The main cause is infectious gastroenteritis caused by bacteria or viruses (sometimes parasites), but non-infectious gastroenteritis can also be caused by allergies or medications taken. In addition, among infectious gastroenteritis, infections caused by food or drink are called food poisoning.

1 [When caused by a virus] Vomiting symptoms tend to be more severe than fever and diarrhea.

2 [If caused by bacteria] Fever of 38℃ or higher, diarrhea symptoms tend to be stronger than vomiting, and sometimes bloody stools. Although it is rare in Japan, it is common in countries with poor sanitary conditions. Be careful when traveling abroad.

3 [In case of non-infectious gastroenteritis] Fever is not common, but in addition to abdominal pain and diarrhea, if the inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa is severe, hematemesis and melena may occur.

Viruses that cause 1 include norovirus, rotavirus, sapovirus, and adenovirus. (It can also be caused by influenza virus or coronavirus) Infection routes include drinking or food contaminated with the virus, and person-to-person transmission. Norovirus is the most common virus and can occur year-round, peaking in the fall and winter.

There are many bacteria that cause 2, but representative ones include Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and pathogenic Escherichia coli. Among pathogenic E. coli, O157, a type of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, causes severe symptoms. These bacteria are classified as infectious because they multiply within the body and cause food poisoning. There is also gastroenteritis that occurs when bacteria that cling to food produce toxins and people eat foods contaminated with those toxins. These are classified as toxin types.

Causes of 3 include allergies, medications, and gastrointestinal dysfunction due to overeating and drinking. The most common drug-induced enteritis caused by antibiotics. The most common type of allergy is gastroenteritis due to food allergies such as eggs and milk. Eating and drinking too much often leads to gastrointestinal dysfunction due to excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and cold drinks.

Regardless of the symptoms, we recommend that you consult and receive treatment at a clinic.