Intestinal infection, also known colloquially as diarrhea, is an infectious disease that people face at certain times throughout their lives. Although it affects people of all ages, it is more common in younger children. Intestinal infection makes daily life difficult because it causes problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and if it lasts for a long time, it causes negative effects such as dehydration. Therefore, individuals with intestinal infections should definitely contact hospitals and take the necessary measures according to the recommended treatment plan.
An intestinal infection (gastroenteritis) is a disease caused by microbial agents such as bacteria or viruses, parasites. Food poisoning can also cause intestinal infections. In people with intestinal infections, the digestive system is adversely affected due to changes in the intestinal flora and diarrhea occurs. Due to liquid defecation, sick people feel the need to constantly go to the toilet.
Gastroenteritis also leads to dehydration, which can lead to fatigue and exhaustion. Many people with the disease are curious about how long the intestinal infection lasts and when it heals. Since it is a contagious disease, it is more likely to be transmitted in areas where cleanliness is not sufficient compared to the home environment, such as schools and toilets.
People with the infection should immediately go to a health institution, have the necessary tests done and start their treatment in order to prevent important complications that may occur depending on the prolonged recovery time of the disease.
What are the Types of Intestinal Infection?
Intestinal infection can occur due to many reasons. Since the treatment plan will vary according to the effects that cause the discomfort, it should first be determined whether the discomfort is caused by infection in sick people who apply to hospitals with diarrhea, and if it is caused by infection, it should be learned which microorganism it occurs due to. Gastroenteritis is examined under 3 groups according to the factors causing infection in the intestine;
Bacterial Gastroenteritis: It is a type of intestinal infection caused by bacteria such as E. Coli, Salmonella and Compylobacter. Diarrhea symptoms due to food poisoning are also in the bacterial gastroenteritis type.
Viral Gastroenteritis: It is a type of intestinal infection caused by viruses such as Rotavirus, Adenovirus and Norovirus. Most of the diarrhea symptoms seen in children appear as viral gastroenteritis.
Parasitic Gastroenteritis: It is an intestinal infection caused by parasites such as tapeworms and intestinal worms taking place in the intestines.
What are the Symptoms of Intestinal Infection?
Intestinal infection is a common health problem and its symptoms are almost the same in all sick people. The most common symptoms of intestinal infection are as follows;
- Rapid onset of liquid diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue and sudden tiredness
- Dry mouth and skin
- Don't be too thirsty
- Stomach ache
- Blood pressure drop
- Sore legs
These are typical symptoms of diarrhea, and if they persist for more than 1 week, they may indicate the importance of the infection or the presence of a different condition, so people who are ill should contact hospitals immediately. Individuals with persistent intestinal infections may experience impaired weight control. They may find the need to examine methods such as swallowable gastric balloon https://cdn.npistanbul.com/yutulabilir-kapsul-mide-balonu, which is related to bariatric surgery.
What Causes Intestinal Infection?
Gastroenteritis is a type of infectious disease and develops when the agents that cause this condition enter the body and defeat the immune system. It is a contagious disease and can be passed from individuals infected with bacteria or viruses that cause intestinal infections to healthy individuals. Food and drinks prepared under unhealthy conditions or kept in inappropriate environments, unclean water, toilet hygiene or not cleaning hands after actions such as changing diapers are among the factors that cause the development of the disease. Most of these infections are viral infections. Antibiotics do not affect viruses. Therefore, people with intestinal infections should avoid unconscious drug consumption. Without wasting time, they should determine the cause of the discomfort with diagnostic tests to be performed in health institutions and start receiving treatment accordingly.
How is Intestinal Infection Diagnosed?
Patients who apply to hospitals withsymptoms of gastroenteritis should first be asked for a detailed medical history. Then, the number and intensity of defecation within 24 hours, the medications used by the patient and the existing chronic diseases should be known. Then, during the physical control to be performed by the specialist, it is asked whether pain is observed when some parts of the abdomen are pressed, abdominal sounds can be listened. A stool sample of the sick person is taken and sent to the relevant laboratories for examination. With this test, which is also called stool test, the effects of infection in the stool can be investigated, parasites and parasite eggs can be detected if they are present, and it can be checked whether there is blood in the stool. If deemed necessary by the specialist, various blood tests and imaging methods such as ultrasound and tomography can be used to support the diagnosis and prevent the possibility of various disorders. After all the tests applied, the effects that cause intestinal infection are fully determined and a treatment plan is applied accordingly.
How to Treat Intestinal Infection?
Intestinal infection is very common and is a disease that generally heals on its own within 1 week at the latest with rest, plenty of fluid consumption and consumption of healthy foods. Therefore, sick people generally do not feel the need to consult a specialist. People with this infection should drink 2-2.5 liters of water daily to prevent dehydration and consume liquid foods with low fiber content. Meals should be low in fat and sugar consumption should be avoided. Foods such as yogurt, ayran and kefir contain probiotic bacteria. Therefore, it contributes to the elimination of infection and prevention of diarrhea. It may also be useful to consume boiled potatoes and rice. If fever is present, the specialist may recommend the use of medicines containing paracetamol.
In case of intense vomiting, anti-nausea drugs can be used to prevent fluid loss. In addition, the sick person should rest as much as possible, and the toilet used by the sick person should not be used by other people during the illness and should be thoroughly cleaned afterwards to prevent transmission to others.