Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is an irritation and infection of the digestive tract, often causing sudden and violent upsets.

Signs and symptoms

Gastroenteritis can cause:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever.
• Abdominal cramping and pain.
• Weakness.
• Appetitie loss.

Causes

Gastroenteritis may be caused by:

• Food or water contaminated by viruses, bacteria or parasites.
• Food poisoning.
• Laxatives.
• Chemicals and toxins from plants, seafoods or contaminated foods.
• Change in normal intestinal bacteria (may occur when you are taking antibiotics).
• Improperly prepared foods and diet.
• Excess alcohol use.
• Use of drugs such as aspirin, non-steroidal-anti-inflammatories, cortisone.
• Travel to foreign countries.

How to prevent gastroenteritis

• Frequent hand washing if you or someone you live with is ill with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Avoid all causes.
• Carefully prepare all foods (keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, especially during hot weather and picnic season).

How gastroenteritis is treated

• Sometimes diagnosis is made through studies of blood and stool.
• Rest, plenty of fluids.
• Give your system a rest by taking clear liquids for at least 24 hours (water, tea, broth, jello, white soda)
• Medication usually is not needed, only if Gastroenteritis is severe and prolonged you may be prescribed anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea medications.
• Slowly add bland foods such as cooked cereals, bananas, rice, potatoes, toast. Avoid alcohol, greasy, spicy foods, raw fruits and vegetables, caffeine and milk products for several days until you feel well.

Call your doctor

• if you are ill longer than 2 days.
• if you notice blood when vomiting or in your bowels.
• if you have fever higher than 101 ° F and is not relieved by Tylenol.
• if you have severe abdominal pain and cramps.
• if you have severe pain in the rectum.
• if you become dehydrated (dry mouth, excess thirst, decreased urination, wrinkled skin).

You should feel better in 2 to 5 days with proper treatment but may feel weak and fatigued for about 1 week.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.